Indiana touts workforce development program as $35M gain for economy
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
New state data shows adult education administered by Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development has boosted Indiana’s economy tremendously.
The DWD this week published data on its adult education programs, saying it awarded nearly 4,200 high school equivalency certificates from 2023-2024. That number is an 8% increase in that time.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a high school equivalency increases wages by almost $9,000 a year. That means those degrees boosted Indiana’s economy by around $35 million.
DWD director Richard Paulk said he’s happy with the progress the agency has made.
“It is essential for Indiana’s continued economic development to have a skilled workforce,” Paulk said in a release. “The benefits to the state economically are certainly important but the financial impact on the worker and jobseeker are what stand out to me. These are life changing numbers and life changing programs. I’m proud to see Adult Education’s growth and continued upskilling of Hoosiers to their higher potential.”
The DWD’s adult education programs focus on giving applicants job training skills in manufacturing, health sciences and IT. In total, the DWD reported 25,000 people were enrolled in the programs in the last two years.
DWD officials credit the state legislature with providing $4 million in additional funding to help with adult education efforts.