The number of students who enrolled in the Kansas higher education system dropped slightly in 2014, especially among older, non-traditional students which officials say indicates economic recovery.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the overall enrollment at Kansas public institutions, including community colleges and technical schools, fell 2.5 percent from the 2012-2013 academic year to the 2013-2014. The Kansas Board of Regents met last week to discuss enrollment at the state’s schools, and officials say that a decline in enrollment by older students indicates that adults are moving back into the workforce.

The board also reported that about one-fourth of students who received bachelor’s degrees from Kansas institutions in 2014 had attended three or more institutions on their way to that degree. About a third of graduates attended just one institution.