Southern Indiana Business Report
A Daviess County company was recognized by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development earlier this month for its efforts to provide adult education to employees.
Perdue Farms Inc. in Washington was among 16 Indiana employers and several adult learners honored during the 2024 Adult Education Day at the Indiana Statehouse.
Employers were honored for one or more of the following:
- Providing employees’ wages for attending adult education classes;
- Supplying classroom space and computers or other technology to support students;
- Providing other classroom materials and supplies;
- Funding the cost to pay teachers and instructors; and
- Offering permanent employment to workers who successfully completed classes.
Perdue Farms Inc. has worked with Vincennes University’s Adult Education program to offer English classes at its location in Daviess County since 2021. Select team members attend on-site classes during the work day.
VU’s Adult Education program submitted the following nomination letter for Perdue’s efforts.
“They are paid for their time in class because Perdue sees that improving team members’ language skills benefits not just team members and their families, but also contributes to their productivity and safety at work. We were recently able to graduate the fifth and sixth classes of ESL students and began working with our first cohort of GED students onsite and two new groups of ESL students. Perdue aspires to provide a safe, supportive, & healthy environment where people want to work. Supporting team members as they improve their language skills and work towards their HSE fits well into that vision.”
Through numerous programs, adult education students earn credentials, receive post-secondary education, achieve sustainable employment and reach economic self-sufficiency. In Indiana, 70% of adult learners are employed after earning their HSE and experience an average wage increase of more than $8,800 annually. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, approximately 3,808 Hoosier adult learners earned their high school equivalency.
There are more than 250 adult education class locations – in-person or online – in the state offering students opportunities to increase skills, learn English, access training, obtain industry-recognized credentials and earn a higher-paying job.
“Governor Holcomb’s agenda focuses on education, training and connecting Hoosiers to the right resources at the right time,” said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. “Adult Education is a proven way of ensuring job seekers and employers’ workforce needs in new and existing industry sectors across the state are met. I’m thankful to celebrate the many accomplishments of every learner, provider and employer here today.”