Using Profiles of Human and Social Capital to Understand Adult Immigrants’ Education Needs: A Latent Class Approach

Abstract

With the U.S. adult education system providing education services to millions of immigrants annually, understanding the unique skills and assets among adult immigrant learners is important. Using data from the U.S. Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, this study used data on immigrants (n = 1,873) to identify latent classes along dimensions of human and social capital. Latent class analysis indicated five discrete profiles: High Opportunity, Upskill Ready, Satisfactorily Skilled, Motivated and Engaged, and Highly Skilled. The results provide support for using customized education approaches to capitalize on the collection of assets adult learners have while concurrently increasing education service providers’ capacity to serve.

Keywords

adult education PIAAC adult immigrants human capital social capital

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