Author: Connor Harrington, CEO of Kuder
Across Iowa, from rural school districts to bustling urban centers, a transformative shift is reshaping how students and employers connect education to career readiness. More students are engaging directly with employers earlier than ever before. At the same time, businesses are stepping confidently into classrooms and workplaces, not only to support students but to build a stronger, future-ready workforce. Communities across the state are uniting to close Iowa’s growing workforce gap through innovative work-based learning solutions that benefit both students and employers.
I recently joined the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast, hosted by Leisa Fox, alongside Wendy Mihm-Herold of iJAG, Meg Schneider from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, and Jamie Newel of MidAmerican Energy. Together, we explored how work-based learning is transforming workforce development across Iowa by creating meaningful, mutually beneficial connections between students and businesses.
Our conversation centered on a hopeful message: expanding access to work-based learning experiences unlocks potential for every student and provides employers with a reliable pipeline of skilled talent. These programs connect students with real employers through mentorship, job shadows, and internships that deliver not just exposure, but true career preparation, creating value for students and businesses alike.
Here are five key insights from our discussion that can guide the path forward for Iowa’s workforce development:
Work-based learning goes beyond traditional career exploration. It immerses students in real-world challenges alongside employers, giving them hands-on opportunities to build skills, confidence, and professional relationships. As Wendy Mihm-Herold of iJAG explained, these programs do more than introduce careers. They foster mentorship, inspire self-belief, and reveal future possibilities students may not have imagined.
This connection between classroom and career ignites a sense of purpose for students and helps employers build a well-prepared talent pool. When students gain clarity about their career paths through real-world experiences, businesses benefit from future employees who are motivated and skilled. To expand this win-win opportunity, schools and community organizations must prioritize access to mentorships, internships, and job shadows, especially in underserved districts.
Employers play a vital role by volunteering as mentors and hosting students. Even small commitments, like offering one internship annually, create pipelines that strengthen communities and meet business needs.
With Iowa’s talent gap widening, many businesses are taking workforce development into their own hands by partnering with schools early in students’ career journeys. Jamie Newel from MidAmerican Energy shared how their company collaborates with schools to offer job shadows and internships that expose students to energy careers.
This proactive approach benefits everyone involved. Students gain industry insights and build trust with potential employers, while businesses develop a skilled talent pool tailored to their needs. This strategy is more than workforce development, it is a strategic workforce investment that ensures students are career-ready when they enter the job market.
Iowa companies of all sizes can replicate this model by partnering with local schools and workforce organizations to create or expand work-based learning programs that serve both student learning and business workforce goals.
By the time a student is in 4th grade, they’ve already ruled out 70% of available jobs, according the Drawing the Future report. That’s why it’s critical to ensure students are engaged in career exploration and work-based learning opportunities as early as possible.
At Kuder, we are proud to provide PreK-12th grade career readiness solutions that connect students’ interests and skills confidence to real-world opportunities. When students see how their interests translate into tangible career pathways through work-based learning, their motivation and retention increase dramatically.
This direct connection benefits employers as well. It helps businesses attract candidates who are not only informed about the industry but are truly interested as well. Kuder Navigator exemplifies this by empowering students to explore work-based learning opportunities aligned with their career interests.
Expanding access to both digital tools and hands-on learning experiences is essential, not optional, for Iowa’s future economic success. The state’s investments in career readiness must now be matched with efforts from businesses and agencies to fund partnerships that broaden access to career development solutions and workforce learning programs, like the iJAG Connect partnership.
One recurring theme was the need for alignment across schools, employers, and workforce organizations. Currently, work-based learning programs vary widely across districts and regions, creating barriers to scalability and broader participation.
The next step is fostering collaboration around shared goals, common language, and unified expectations. This alignment will enable Iowa’s workforce development ecosystem to move forward efficiently and inclusively, maximizing impact.
Closing Iowa’s workforce gap requires more than educators alone. It demands a collective effort from employers, community leaders, parents, policymakers, and service providers. This shared responsibility ensures students gain early, intentional career-connected learning opportunities while businesses secure the talent needed to thrive.
Our podcast guests, representing diverse sectors, all agreed on the critical value of these early engagements. When students, educators, and employers work together, they create pathways that lead to meaningful careers and sustainable economic growth.
Iowa has the passion, programs, and partnerships to make a difference. The challenge now is to coordinate these assets to increase reach and deepen impact for students and businesses alike.
Iowa’s work-based learning ecosystem is growing in strength and innovation. The true challenge is ensuring that career development solutions and workforce development programs are accessible to every student while meeting the evolving needs of employers.
At Kuder, we are committed to advancing scalable career development tools, fostering partnerships between schools and businesses, and championing equity statewide. If you are an educator, business leader, or community advocate, now is the time to get involved. Engage with schools, offer job shadows, initiate workforce conversations, and leverage existing resources to benefit both students and your business.
The next generation of Iowa’s workforce is here. Together, let’s provide the support and opportunities they need to thrive and build a prosperous future for all Iowans.
Listen to the full podcast episode: “Solving Iowa’s Workforce Gap” on the Iowa Manufacturing Podcast. Listen In.
Interested in bringing Kuder’s career development solutions and work-based learning tools to your school or organization? Connect with our team today.
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