LaPorte County Socioeconomic Data

The economic indicators of LaPorte County also provide information that is useful when planning for the future. By studying the economic patterns as well as the social state of the community, issues might be identified before they become significant problems. Several significant statistics are highlighted below.

· The unemployment rate for LaPorte County in December 2000 stood at 3.1%

· Purchasing power is higher in LaPorte County than any of the benchmarked counties examined for this study

· Over 1,967 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1989, making it the fastest declining sector of the economy

· Agriculture and related services jobs have increased the most since 1989, with over 2,668 new jobs created

· In 1997, retail per capita sales stood at $9,501

· LaPorte County retail sales increased by 19.3%, while the state grew at 30%

· The median household income in 1995 was $36,184, which was $1,816 above the Indiana state average

Source: Cinergy, 1999

Released by Independent Colleges of Indiana in October of 2000, the following statistics detail the college dropout numbers for the state of Indiana. Included in the graphs below are the statistics for the five LaPorte County high schools. The data suggests that there are some alarming trends concerning the performance of LaPorte County students once they reach college.

Source: Independent Colleges of Indiana

Source: Independent Colleges of Indiana

Measuring the literacy rates of adults is another key statistic when assessing the socioeconomic situation of a community. The National Institute of Literacy measures the literacy rates of adults at five separate levels. The lowest literacy level is Level 1. (This literacy level requires the reader to locate a single piece of information that is identical to information given in the question provided to the reader.)

It is important to point out that individuals scoring at the lowest literacy level are not illiterate. They are able to perform a variety of literacy tasks such as signing their name, totaling a bank deposit, and locating an expiration date on a driver's license. However, these individuals are at a marked disadvantage in our society. Tasks these adults cannot perform include; locating an intersection on a street map, locating two pieces of information in an article, or calculating the total costs of a purchase on an order form.

Several significant statistics are highlighted below.

· 43% of adults at Level 1 literacy live in poverty

· 3 of 4 food stamps recipients performed at the two lowest literacy levels

· Adults at Level 1 literacy earned a median income of $240 per week

· Adults at Level 1 literacy worked an average of 19 weeks per year

· 7 in 10 prisoners performed in the lowest two literacy levels

Source: National Institute for Literacy, 1998

Source: National Institute for Literacy, 1998