INDIANA – After 20 years of serving Indiana’s employers, educators, and talent, Indiana INTERNnet has rebranded to Work and Learn Indiana (WLI), dramatically expanded its mission, and will offer many new initiatives. The redesigned and updated website hosts Indiana’s largest statewide marketplace of work and learning opportunities for Hoosiers and employers that promote talent development and career advancement.
Work and Learn Indiana is a program of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and its emerging Institute for Workforce Excellence, which is dedicated to helping employers attract, develop and retain high-skilled, productive talent in Indiana.
During the WLI program history, more than 11,000 internships have been filled throughout the state – with a record-setting number in recent years. Now, in addition to internships, WLI will continue to connect employers with diverse talent, but with a broader scope.
“The evolution from Indiana INTERNnet to Work and Learn Indiana reflects our commitment to work-based learning as a key driver of workforce opportunity and equity,” says Jason Bearce, vice president of education and workforce development at the Indiana Chamber. “We’re both doubling down on our traditional focus on college internships while also bringing a wider range of work-and-learn experiences to more Hoosiers – from high school students to career-changing adults.”
He adds, “We know from the Chamber’s just-released employer survey that nearly three-fourths of employers said the supply of employees doesn’t meet their needs and nearly 60% left jobs unfilled due to lack of qualified workers.
“Creating more partnerships between companies and students through Work and Learn Indiana is one way we hope to help reduce those numbers and get more Hoosiers employed so businesses can do the expansion that too often they have put on hold.”
WLI website users can expect to see many new offerings with the rebrand, including:
- support for additional work-based learning formats outside of internships;
- a pilot expansion of the EARN Indiana state work study program to include high school students, with grant opportunities for Indiana school communities and employers;
- diversified employer services and trainings; and
- comprehensive intern project management support.
To learn more, visit: www.workandlearnindiana.com or call 317-264-6852.
