Women Welders Rebuild Indiana’s Workforce
The tight labor market makes it hard for businesses of all kinds to hire enough workers.
Welders are among those in demand, especially in Indiana, where a new program responds to employer needs by giving female inmates the skills to join the workforce when they’re released from state prison.
More than 200 women have gone through the Ivy Tech Community College program since December 2017, including a number who now belong to the small community of women welders.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb singled out the program during this year’s state of the state address. “Given the urgency around strengthening our workforce, we can’t afford to overlook anyone, especially those who want to earn a second chance,” he told lawmakers.

Brittany Young, of Madison, Ind., demonstrates mig welding at Vehicle Service Group in Madison, Thursday, April 18, 2019. Young was the first woman to earn her welding certification at Ivy Tech Community college while she was incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for dealing drugs. Young was drawn to welding for the high demand, "The program saved my life," she said.

Brittany Young, of Madison, Ind., demonstrates mig welding at Vehicle Service Group in Madison, Thursday, April 18, 2019. Young was the first woman to earn her welding certification at Ivy Tech Community college while she was incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for dealing drugs. Young was drawn to welding for the high demand and feared reoffending upon release "The program saved my life," she said.

Holly Fields, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Fields is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for fraud and was drawn to welding for a chance to learn a new skill, work with her hands and connect with her son who is also a welder.

Latia Henkel, of Indianapolis, Ind., in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019., Henkel is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for drug related charges and is scheduled to be released in 2020. She was drawn to welding for her love of cars and hopes to build a 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback one day.

Latia Henkel, of Indianapolis, Ind., in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019., Henkel is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for drug related charges and is scheduled to be released in 2020. She was drawn to welding for her love of cars and hopes to build a 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback one day.

Brittany Young, of Madison, Ind., at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Thursday, April 18, 2019. Young was the first woman to earn her welding certification at Ivy Tech Community college while she was incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for dealing drugs. Young was drawn to welding for the high demand and feared reoffending upon release "The program saved my life," she said.

Brittany Young, of Madison, Ind., at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Thursday, April 18, 2019. Young was the first woman to earn her welding certification at Ivy Tech Community college while she was incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for dealing drugs. Young was drawn to welding for the high demand and feared reoffending upon release "The program saved my life," she said.

Brittany Young, of Madison, Ind., at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Thursday, April 18, 2019. Young was the first woman to earn her welding certification at Ivy Tech Community college while she was incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for dealing drugs. Young was drawn to welding for the high demand and feared reoffending upon release "The program saved my life," she said.

Holly Fields, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., demonstrates metal grindin in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Fields is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for fraud and was drawn to welding for a chance to learn a new skill, work with her hands and connect with her son who is also a welder.

Holly Fields, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., left, helps Ashleigh Hall, of Indianapolis, Ind., with her earring in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Both women are currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility.

Current inmates at Madison Correctional Facility enter the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Wesley Kristin, of Lafayette, of Lafayette, Ind., demonstrated metal cutting in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Kristin is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for neglect of a dependent. She was drawn to welding since her father was a welder and the hopes of making more than minimum wage, "this gives me a fighting chance to make it in society," she said.

Ashleigh Hall of Indianapolis, Ind., demonstrates using a plasma cutter in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Hall is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for strong arm robbery and expects to be released in December 2019. She was drawn to welding with hopes of finding a job in Indianapolis upon release.

Brittany Young, of Madison, Ind., walks through the production floor at Vehicle Service Group in Madison, Thursday, April 18, 2019. Young was the first woman to earn her welding certification at Ivy Tech Community college while she was incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for dealing drugs. Young was drawn to welding for the high demand and feared reoffending upon release "The program saved my life," she said.

Industrial technology professor Ron Novak, of Madison, Ind., left, works with Ashleigh Hall of Indianapolis, Ind., as she demonstrates using a plasma cutter in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Hall is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for strong arm robbery and expects to be released in December 2019. She was drawn to welding with hopes of finding a job in Indianapolis upon release.
at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Holly Fields, of Lawrenceburg, Ind.,left, shakes hands with Resource Mfg. staff manager Christel Copeland, of Madison, Ind., during a job fair at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Fields is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for fraud and was drawn to welding for a chance to learn a new skill, work with her hands and connect with her son who is also a welder.

Ashleigh Hall of Indianapolis, Ind., speaks with potential employers during a job fair at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Hall is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for strong arm robbery and expects to be released in December 2019. She was drawn to welding with hopes of finding a job in Indianapolis upon release.

Jessica Barton, of Kalamazoo, Mich, in the weld lab at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Barton is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for possession and distribution of methamphetamines and will be released in May, 2019. She was drawn to welding for the opportunity of a finding a job in manufacturing when she is released.

Latia Henkel, of Indianapolis, Ind., left, speaks with Bobbie Carter, of Connersville, Ind., during a job fair at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Both women are incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility and have earned their welding certification through Ivy Tech.

Holly Fields, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., left, and Ashleigh Hall, of Indianapolis, Ind., wait to meet with potential employers during job fair at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Both women ate certified welders and are currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility.

A poster board made by Latia Henkel, of Indianapolis, Ind., during a job fair at Ivy Tech Community College in Madison, Ind., Thursday, April 18, 2019., Henkel is currently incarcerated at Madison Correctional Facility for drug related charges and is scheduled to be released in 2020. Henkel says the poster represents her past, present and future.