On Thursday afternoon, over 70 local employers, workforce leaders, and education partners gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium for Untapped, a panel and networking event designed to help local employers tackle their workforce challenges through proven work-based learning (WBL) strategies and apprenticeship-tailored solutions. Powered by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana, the event featured panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to highlight real-world strategies tailored to the Indy region, empowering employers to confidently integrate work-based learning into their talent pipelines—and unlock the full potential of the next generation workforce. 

“We’re thrilled to help bring together our city’s workforce leaders in effort to network, learn and collaborate as we work to grow the work-based learning movement in our region,” says Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy’s President + CEO. “We believe in the power of WBL and apprenticeships to not only help employers develop the next generation of talent but also shift their current workplace culture in new and valuable ways.” 

Talent experts from EmployIndy, Ascend Indiana, Indy Chamber, Aracamed, and the Indianapolis Airport Authority provided insights and guidance on topics like unlocking the power of WBL, launching and scaling WBL programs, preparing participants for success, integrating inclusivity, and more. 

As students face increasing challenges in preparing for meaningful and sustainable careers, and employers express concern about the lack of skilled and diverse workers who can meet their evolving demands, EmployIndy is working to connect youth with real-world work experiences that align with emerging economic trends to fill these gaps. Last year, 48,220 WBL and career-connected learning activities were facilitated or supported by EmployIndy, including 142 Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) youth apprentices at 12 Marion County high schools. Additionally, 599 employers delivered career exploration, engagement, and experience activities to Marion County K–12 and postsecondary students. 

What We Heard from Employers 

Throughout the event, several key themes emerged from our conversations with employers: 

• Start small, learn, try, learn again. 

• Hope is not a strategy. To stand out and fill talent gaps, you have to take initiative. 

• Intermediary partners can help growth, but internal champions and flexibility will make it stick. 

• WBL transforms teams from task managers into talent mentors. 

• Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with the right partners.  

What’s Next 

This conversation was just the beginning. Coming soon, we’ll host a series of small roundtable events focused on key topics such as legal considerations, student preparation, and managing WBL programs as they grow. 

And the momentum is strong—100% of employers who responded to our follow-up survey said they would recommend Untapped to others. We’re excited to continue the conversation and build on this energy at our next event. Please be on the lookout for future communications from EmployIndy about our next event. 

To get connected to WBL resources and learn how this talent strategy can take your organization to the next level, reach out to businesspartnerships@nullemployindy.org. 

On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, EmployIndy had the privilege of joining the Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Warren Township and Ford Next Generation Learning (NGL) for Envision Day, an event bringing together key stakeholders to help shape the future success of students and workforce in the eastside school district.

Students, teachers, district leaders, parents, and community partners gathered at Indianapolis Marriot East to participate in a full day of discussion and planning activities aimed at creating the district’s next strategic plan, with an intentional PK-12 college and career readiness framework. Focused on the journey of a graduate and using a community-connected approach, the career readiness framework will allow students to explore industries as well as engage in and experience the career pathways available to them.   

As the convening organization, EmployIndy will support Warren’s implementation and transformation into this community-based initiative that aims to ensure that all Warren students are prepared for either enrollment, enlistment, or employment after high school.  “We’re excited to play a big role in this partnership by ensuring Warren Township schools have the tools and resources they need to reimagine career-connected learning in their district,” said Erika Cheney, Vice President of Career-Connected Learning for EmployIndy, a speaker at the event. “Through our Talent Bound program, we’ll provide meaningful experiences and opportunities for students through our employer connections and work with industry leaders.” 

In partnership with Central Indiana Education Service Center (CIESC), Warren Township and six other Indiana school districts were awarded an Explore, Engage, and Experience (3E) Grant from the Indiana Department of Education to partner with Ford NGL to implement locally driven, strategic career pathways for their students. Each Ford NGL community has a dedicated Ford NGL Coach, who supports and guides communities as they develop and implement a Ford NGL Master Plan to scale and sustain a career academy network and prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers. 

“As we consider the Next Generation of Learners (NGL), with a realization that current Kindergartners will graduate in 2036, what knowledge, skills, attributes, and experiences do ALL Warren students need that are critical to their future success regardless of what path they choose?”, said Doug Harter Districts 3E Grant & Community Partnership Coordinator.  

As the workforce development intermediary, EmployIndy works to help students and residents grow in a career that meets employer demand for talent. As part of this work, EmployIndy supports career-connected learning initiatives to provide real-world work experiences that help inform career choices and build skills. Learn more about our 2023-2025 strategic plan at: www.employindy.org/2023-2025-strategic-plan.

For more information on Envision Day, visit www.warren.k12.in.us/page/envision-day. 

A recent article by Whitney Downard in the Indianapolis Business Journal pointed out some disturbing trends for Indiana workers. Downard’s analysis was in response to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics showing that Indiana workers make about 83% of the national wage average, and that 91 of 92 Indiana counties fall under the national wage of just over $70,000 a year.  

Marion County was the one Indiana county that came in slightly above the national wage average, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room for improvement. During a recent lunch-and-learn session in June hosted by EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team, twenty-five businesses joined Lora Steele, Director of Business Consulting, and Joslyn Cunningham, Senior Manager of Business Consulting, for a discussion about the Choice Employers program and specifically, the Good Wages Initiative (GWI). Representatives from Second Helpings, Barrett & Stokely, Franciscan Health, Visit Indy, Eleven Fifty Academy, and State Farm Insurance were among those who attended the session to learn more. 

Started in 2022, the Good Wages Initiative is a network of more than 80 Marion County employers that pay their full-time employees a wage of at least $18 an hour and provide access to health insurance benefits. That current wage floor comes from a 2018 Brookings Institution report, Advancing opportunity in Central Indiana. In addition to the full GWI certification process (for which businesses can find an application here), there is also a “committed” path for businesses that are close to meeting program qualifications and need assistance in crossing that threshold.  

After a wage increase for their employees, Newfields recently became the first organization to move from “committed” to fully-certified within the program, adding to the growing list of Marion County employers who have joined the initiative. Representing roughly 18 industries and nearly 25,000 workers, GWI employers have already committed to increasing worker wages by over $5.1M. 

EmployIndy’s lunch-and-learn series will continue Friday, September 29th with a session focused on justice-involved hiring, aimed at providing insight regarding the training available to those leaving incarceration, the crucial role that wrap around services provide, and how to navigate the challenges of talent acquisition with this population. You can register for this upcoming session here. 

To stay informed of upcoming lunch-and-learn events, or other ways to connect with EmployIndy’s Business Partnerships team, subscribe to their quarterly newsletter here or visit www.employindy.org/business-partnerships.