La Porte County: Workforce

LaPorte County Workforce Profile (2025–2026)

Metric Value Source/Period
Civilian Labor Force ~51,700 BLS (Dec 2025)
Total Employed ~50,100 BLS (Dec 2025)
Med. Individual Income $36,599 Census Bureau (2023/24)
HS Graduate or Higher 90.8% Census Bureau (2024)
Bach. Degree or Higher 22.7% Census Bureau (2024)
Median Age 40.8 Years Census Bureau (2024)

LaPorte County Workforce Profile (2025–2026)

Civ. Labor Force
Total Employed
Med. Ind. Income
HS Grad. or Higher
Bachelor's or Higher
Median Age

~51,700
~50,100
$36,599
90.8%
22.7%
40.8

Key Employment Sectors

LaPorte County maintains a robust industrial and service-oriented economy. The largest sectors by employment share are:

  1. Manufacturing (21.9%): Anchored by major employers like Howmet Aerospace and Alpha Baking.

  2. Healthcare & Social Services (13.2%): Led by Northwest Health – La Porte and Franciscan St. Anthony Health.

  3. Retail & Wholesale Trade (11.6%): Supported by regional hubs like Meijer and Walmart.

  4. Educational Services (7.6%): A stable employment base across local school districts and higher ed partners.

Commuting & Labor Shed Insights

  • Regional Draw: LaPorte County is a vital part of the Northwest Indiana labor market. Over 5,800 workers commute into the county daily from Lake County alone, while significant flows also come from Jasper and Starke counties.

  • Connectivity: The average commute time for residents is 28.4 minutes, reflecting the county's accessibility to the broader Chicago-Gary-South Bend corridor.

  • Remote Work: Approximately 9.5% of the workforce now works from home, a steady increase that supports the demand for fiber-ready housing developments like Hunter Woods.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): For monthly unemployment and labor force updates (Economy at a Glance). Hoosiers by the Numbers: Indiana DWD’s primary portal for county highlights and major employer lists (HoosierData.in.gov). U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: For educational attainment and demographic snapshots (Census.gov). FRED (St. Louis Fed): For smoothed and seasonally adjusted economic trends (FRED Economic Data).

OUR COUNTY WORK FORCE PARTNERSHIPS

La Porte County is home to many skilled workers. Our community is built upon a qualified, dependable workforce. We have a large pool of candidates who are ready to strengthen La Porte County’s economy. Local schools provide education for future generations, while higher education institutions provide professional development and continued training.

La Porte County School Districts

Educational Excellence in La Porte County

La Porte County’s educational ecosystem is a major driver of its economic vitality, offering a diverse array of high-performing public and private options. From the New Prairie United School Corporation, consistently ranked as the county’s top district for its "Culture of Excellence," to the La Porte Community School Corporation, which recently launched a historic 20-year partnership with Microsoft to host a specialized Datacenter Academy, the region is a leader in preparing students for the 21st-century workforce. Michigan City Area Schools rounds out the public offerings with robust STEM and vocational pathways through the A.K. Smith Career Center. For families seeking independent or faith-based education, the county boasts elite institutions like La Lumiere School, an internationally recognized boarding school, and Marquette Catholic High School, ensuring a tailored academic environment for every student.