Work-Based Learning

Your Chamber's Strategic Advantage in Talent Development

Invigorate your local workforce and drive economic growth with work-based learning (WBL). This powerful strategy transforms how chambers cultivate a skilled workforce, support employer members and, critically, spur robust economic development. By showcasing local opportunities, building talent pipelines and strengthening regional reputation, WBL helps your community thrive.

What is work-based learning? It's hands-on, real-world experience integrating with academic instruction. WBL encompasses a spectrum of opportunities:

• Career awareness activities.
• Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
• Project-based learning.
• On-campus jobs.

WBL's prominence is no accident. It's backed by compelling research and clear employer demand. For example, the Strada Education Foundation recently published a study finding that students prioritize getting a better job and gaining training for a specific career, seeking WBL for direct experience, expanded networks and technical skills. For businesses, WBL develops vital human skills—like critical thinking and teamwork—best acquired through authentic work. This helps employers assess practical abilities and organizational fit, leading to stronger teams, streamlined hiring, and improved retention. It's a clear win-win.

CAEL has long been a champion of WBL. Its transformative impact academically empowers learners, making education profoundly relevant by facilitating knowledge application and fostering professional connections. Maximizing WBL accessibility for everyone is a core principle, ensuring communities tap into their full talent potential.

Consider Greater Lafayette, Indiana. To align K-12 education with high-demand skills, Greater Lafayette Commerce partnered with local schools, Ivy Tech and regional employers. They launched the innovative Career+™ Ecosystem, integrating learning into classes and offering robust experiences. Young learners gained expanded choices and career success, equipped with vital skills for sectors like advanced manufacturing and logistics. CAEL proudly supported this comprehensive talent development ecosystem.

CAEL partners to build effective WBL strategies. Our expertise connects education to employer needs, supports credential development, and fosters regional partnerships for robust talent pipelines. We also link registered apprenticeships directly to associate degrees, as exemplified by our collaboration with the Machinists Institute. We provide resources and best practices to maximize WBL accessibility and ensuring these programs serve as powerful engines for economic growth.

Chambers are uniquely positioned to champion work-based learning. By embracing WBL, you directly influence economic development, foster a highly skilled workforce and bridge critical workforce gaps, creating a more resilient and prosperous future.

To learn more about CAEL's comprehensive WBL initiatives, email Matt Waltz at mwaltz@cael.org or visit our website.

Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers, postsecondary educators, employers and industry groups, and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. Learn more at cael.org.