Indiana’s Adult Education and
Workforce Skills Performance Report

Like in many states across the U.S., educators and policymakers in Indiana face a daunting challenge as they strive to improve the education levels of the current workforce. While nearly all workers need additional education and training throughout their careers, there are certain segments of Indiana’s workforce that require more immediate intervention in order to become gainfully employed or advance to better jobs. Quite simply, the number of working-age adults in Indiana who have not completed high school, speak little or no English, and are in families that earn less than a living wage is way too high.

As Indiana continues its transition from an industrial to a knowledge-based economy, the ability of education providers throughout the state to train and retrain the workforce is critical. They must provide a larger and more diverse group of Indiana residents with the skills needed to compete in the new economy – e.g., critical thinking, the ability to find and use information, teamwork and advanced knowledge in science and technology.

This Performance Report from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce is intended to supplement important efforts already underway in our state. It gauges the ability of education providers to address the long-term workforce needs in Indiana. It focuses largely on education and training at levels below the baccalaureate – and the large number of adults who are left behind and under-prepared for work in this new economic environment.

This report was developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and made possible through the support of The Joyce Foundation.

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