How iJAG, Kuder, and ABI Are Scaling Work-Based Learning Through Data and Partnership

Iowa is rapidly emerging as a national leader in work-based learning (WBL) and statewide talent pipeline development, demonstrating how strategic partnerships between education, workforce, and industry, when powered by data, can drive measurable, scalable impact.

At the center of this transformation is iJAG Connect, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG), Kuder, Inc., and the ABI Foundation. Together, these organizations are building a data-driven workforce ecosystem that connects students to career pathways and employers to future talent with greater precision than ever before.

By integrating student-centered programming, real-time career data, and employer engagement infrastructure, Iowa is not only expanding access to high-quality work-based learning, it is creating a system where decisions are informed, opportunities are aligned, and outcomes are measurable at scale.

The Challenge: Fragmented Access to Work-Based Learning

Like many states, Iowa faced systemic challenges in scaling work-based learning:

• Uneven access to career exploration and WBL opportunities across districts
• Persistent talent shortages in high-demand industries
• Limited alignment between student interests and employer workforce needs

But beyond access, there was a deeper issue: a lack of shared visibility.

Education systems, workforce leaders, and employers often operated without a clear, unified understanding of:

• What students were interested in
• Where talent pipelines were emerging
• How those interests aligned to real labor market demand

At the same time, demographic shifts, workforce retirements, and evolving skill demands created urgency for a more coordinated, and data-driven, statewide strategy.

The Solution: A Shared Talent Pipeline Model

The partnership between iJAG, ABI, and Kuder delivers a statewide work-based learning framework built on three interconnected pillars:

1) Student-Centered Programming 

iJAG serves as the frontline delivery system, embedding career readiness directly within schools through trained specialists who provide sustained, individualized support.

With more than 10,000 students served annually across 200+ programs and graduation rates approaching 97%, iJAG generates not only strong outcomes, but also consistent, scalable engagement across diverse student populations.

What differentiates iJAG is its ability to deliver a structured continuum of work-based learning, while simultaneously serving as a critical point of data capture and activation, ensuring student interests, experiences, and progress are continuously informing the broader system.

• Delivers a full continuum of work-based learning experiences, from career awareness to direct employer engagement
• Provides in-school specialists and individualized support, ensuring students are prepared, placed, and retained in opportunities
• Drives strong student outcomes at scale, creating reliable signals for workforce alignment

“This work is about building systems of opportunity,” said Wendy Mihm-Herold, iJAG CEO and President. “We are intentionally surrounding students with the experiences, relationships, and support they need to succeed beyond the classroom.”

2) Career Data & Technology

Kuder provides the data and development foundation that transforms work-based learning into a scalable, precision-driven system. Through Kuder Navigator®, students generate validated insights into their interests, strengths, and career preferences, enabling smarter decisions at every level.

This intelligence allows education and workforce partners to move beyond assumptions and instead align student pathways directly to labor market demand.

• Enables visibility into student interests at scale, helping schools and states align programming with workforce needs
• Supports precision matching of students to right-fit work-based learning experiences and career pathways
• Empowers employers with data-informed access to emerging talent pipelines aligned to industry demand

“What makes this model powerful is the visibility it creates,” said Connor Harrington. “For the first time, partners can clearly see where student interest intersects with workforce demand and act on it at scale.”

3) Employer Activation

The Iowa Association for Business and Industry (ABI) translates insight into action by activating a statewide employer network aligned to real-time data signals.

Rather than engaging employers broadly, this model enables targeted, data-informed engagement, connecting businesses to students whose interests and pathways align with their workforce needs.

This shifts employer engagement from reactive to strategic, allowing businesses to:

• Engage earlier in the talent pipeline
• Focus on high-alignment opportunities
• Build more efficient, predictable hiring pathways
• Activates a statewide employer network, expanding access to work-based learning opportunities across industries
• Creates multiple entry points for engagement, from career awareness to internships, apprenticeships, and hiring
• Builds long-term, sustainable talent pipelines by aligning employer demand with student pathways

“Our employers don’t just want talent, they want the right talent, prepared and ready to contribute,” said Nicole Crain, ABI President. “This partnership gives them a clear, efficient way to engage early and build that pipeline intentionally.”

Data in Action: Aligning Students to High-Demand Careers

The integration of Kuder data with iJAG programming is enabling precision matching between students and workforce needs.

Example: Manufacturing Talent Pipeline

Using Kuder insights, several Iowa schools have identified strong student interest in manufacturing careers, including:

• Harlan High School
• Marshalltown High School
• Woodbine High School

This allows partners to:

• Prioritize employer outreach in manufacturing
• Create targeted WBL opportunities
• Build local pipelines aligned to regional economic needs

Statewide Impact

The result is a shift from fragmented programs to a coordinated workforce ecosystem:

• Students gain relevant, interest-aligned experiences
• Employers access better-prepared, local talent
• Communities benefit from stronger economic alignment

As one of the only models combining career data, in-school support, and employer activation at scale, iJAG Connect is positioning Iowa as a national leader in workforce innovation.

Looking Ahead: A Blueprint for Statewide Workforce Transformation

Iowa’s work is proving a powerful and scalable truth:

When work-based learning is driven by data, aligned to workforce demand, and supported through cross-sector partnerships, states can fundamentally transform how talent pipelines are built and sustained.

Through iJAG Connect, Iowa is not just expanding access, it is building a durable, statewide system where education and industry operate in alignment rather than in parallel.

As this model continues to scale, the vision is clear:

• Every student can access high-quality, interest-aligned work-based learning experiences that lead to real opportunity
• Every employer can play an active, ongoing role in shaping and developing their future workforce
• Every community can benefit from a stronger, more connected, and more resilient talent pipeline

This partnership is a blueprint for how states can close workforce gaps, strengthen economies, and create opportunity at scale.

Iowa is not just participating in the future of work-based learning, it is helping define it.

To get involved in iJAG Connect, contact the partnership team.