Work-based learning: Connecting students to careers and employers to talent

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By Jarrad Toussant, Senior Vice President, Education & Workforce

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

 

Takeaways

  • Work-based learning (WBL) gives students real-world experience and gives employers a direct pipeline to emerging frontline talent.
  • Capstone WBL programs are built on four primary models, each of which are flexible to industry and business needs.
  • The DRC’s new WBL Toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to help employers strengthen talent pipelines, close workforce gaps and prepare students for lasting careers.

The DRC’s new WBL Toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to help employers strengthen talent pipelines, close workforce gaps and prepare students for lasting careers.

The Dallas Region continues to experience extraordinary economic growth, attracting corporate relocations, expanding local companies and creating new jobs. With this growth comes an increasing demand for skilled talent across nearly every industry. While significant investments in education, workforce development and talent attraction help the region meet this growing demand, employers continue to identify a common challenge: finding workers with the skills, experiences and career awareness needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

To equip employers with the tools, resources and information needed to solve this challenge, the DRC launched its Work-Based Learning (WBL) Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to help employers close workforce gaps, strengthen talent pipelines and prepare students for lasting, high-demand careers through career-connected learning opportunities—all while delivering measurable business results.

Work-based learning closes the workforce and readiness gaps

For years, leaders have focused on improving educational outcomes and increasing workforce readiness as independent priorities. In fact, the state expends over $160,000 to educate each student in the state of Texas from kindergarten through high school graduation. Yet according to the National Skills Coalition, Texas faces a middle-skills gap of approximately 1.4 million workers.

WBL helps close that gap by connecting students to real-world experiences that build skills, competencies and career awareness long before they enter the workforce. It serves as a bridge between the classroom and the workplace, giving students opportunities to apply what they learn, explore career pathways and develop the professional skills employers consistently value.

Work-based learning positions high-demand sectors for the future

WBL is especially important in industries facing significant talent shortages and growing workforce demand, such as health care and information technology (IT)—two sectors that are critical to the Dallas Region’s economic future.

Health care is projected to create 2.1 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, representing nearly half of all projected job growth in the United States, but shortages of over 500,000 nurses nationwide are expected by the mid-2030s.

Information technology (IT) occupations, meanwhile, are expected to grow 15% by 2031, adding nearly 700,000 new jobs nationwide, but more than 80% of employers report difficulty finding qualified technology talent. Additionally, 82% of technology job postings require prior work experience, creating a significant barrier for students and early-career talent seeking entry into the workforce.

WBL helps solve this challenge by providing students with meaningful opportunities to gain experience before they enter the labor market, equipping talent with essential, relevant skills and building a robust talent pipeline for employers to hire from. The DRC’s WBL Toolkit offers specialized toolkits catered to the health care and IT sectors.

 

Work-based learning is a competitive advantage for employers

Employers have a unique opportunity to influence and strengthen their future talent pipeline by opening their doors to students and emerging talent. A single WBL experience can help a student better understand career options, build professional networks and connect academic learning to future goals.

According to a report from the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE), 80% of employers say internships—one form of WBL—offer a higher ROI than any other recruiting method, and up to 60% of interns convert to full-time hires. WBL simultaneously helps employers build industry awareness and identify prospective employees earlier.

By investing in WBL, employers strengthen their workforce today while building a more resilient, prosperous economy for tomorrow. Whether an organization is taking its first steps into student engagement or looking to scale an existing program, the DRC’s WBL toolkit provides practical guidance and actionable resources that make employer participation easier, more structured and more impactful. To learn more about WBL and how it can impact your business, explore the toolkit.