Overview

Access to labor is one of the top criteria in the selection of a site for any business. Once a decision has been made to locate or expand in Terre Haute/Vigo County, the effects of making the right decision can be profound. The greater Terre Haute areas workforce is diverse with skilled, semi-skilled and trainable workers readily available. It is a workforce that is known for high productivity, a strong work ethnic and a sense of community.

Post-secondary education and training offerings are extensive.  Including Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, we have five institutions of higher education--Indiana State University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Ivy Tech Community College-Wabash Valley, and Harrison College. These higher education institutions along with our public school system (which is ranked among the best within Indiana's 92-counties) provide the means to increase well trained and productive workforce, keeping up with product cycles and working to pull ahead of national and global competitors.

Vigo County is part of the West Central Indiana area (a population of approximately 451,000 in 14-counties).  Commissioned by Workforce Network, Inc. (formerly known as the Western Indiana Workforce Investment Board), The Pathfinders organization employed its experience in conducting workforce studies for the West Central Indiana area (a population of approximately 451,000 in 14-counties including Vigo County), in 2004.  The following is a sampling of the conclusions:

• 95% of employers rate their workers as good or excellent in productivity.
• 74% of employers rate their workers as good or excellent in reading and writing   competency.
• 63% of employers rate their workers as good or excellent in calculations competence.
• Absenteeism was rated Low; Turnover was rated Very Low.

A good part of the explanation of the quality of Terre Haute/Vigo County's workforce is the variety and quality of educational offerings.  Our public school system is ranked among the best within Indiana's 92 counties.  Within the top 15 largest urban districts in the state of Indiana, Vigo County School Corporation ranks 4th in terms of percentage of schools making adequate yearly progress in mathematics and language arts as defined by the federal guidelines (No Child Left Behind Act).