Skip to content
Subscribe Donate
Report/Research

Work-Based Learning with Small Business

November 15, 2018

At a Glance

Work-based learning models offer employers an opportunity to develop a skilled local workforce

Contributors
Fran Kennedy
Matthew A. Poland
Mary V.L. Wright
Xiomara Peña, Small Business Majority
Mark Herbert, Small Business Majority
Practices & Centers Topics

As of 2015, small businesses employed nearly half of the nation’s private-sector workforce. Yet, workforce development strategies often focus on large businesses, missing an opportunity to influence almost 50 percent of American workers.

If small businesses were to partner with colleges, schools, community-based organizations, and workforce training programs, not only would the talent pool increase, but business owners could also have a hand in shaping the skills that the upcoming workforce is learning.

Work-based learning models offer employers an opportunity to develop a skilled local workforce, providing them with many benefits, including:

  • Short-term productivity increases
  • A boost in performance through a diverse workforce
  • An enhanced appeal to investors
  • Stronger connections to the local community

To help build these partnerships in communities across America, we’ve developed a guide geared toward small businesses interested in offering work-based learning, as well as a guide and a deck for workforce and education practitioners seeking to engage in work-based learning with small businesses.

For a broader look at developing work-based learning programs in today’s work environment of automation and contract employees, see our report Developing Future Talent: How We Can Prepare for the Future of Work and Business.


Work-Based Learning: A Talent Development Opportunity for Your Small Business

Useful For: Small Businesses

 

This guide describes how and why small business owners can work with local education and workforce training practitioners to develop a talented local workforce through work-based learning.


 

Work-Based Learning with Small Business: A Guide for Workforce and Education Practitioners

Useful For: Education and Workforce Practitioners

 

This guide provides solutions to common challenges faced by workforce and education practitioners when developing work-based learning programs.


 

Work-Based Learning: A Talent Development Opportunity

Useful For: Education and Workforce Practitioners seeking to engage Small Businesses

 

This PowerPoint deck is intended to help professionals engage with small businesses to spark a work-based learning partnership with their organizations.

Related Content

Report/Research

Developing Future Talent: How We Can Prepare for the Future of Work and Business

Developing Future Talent: How We Can Prepare for the Future of Work and Business To prepare a workforce for automation and the gig economy, policymakers, educators, and workforce development practitioners must address the demands of…

November 15, 2018
Practices & Centers

Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning

Expanding and creating access to high-quality apprenticeship and work-based learning. Apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and work-based learning are proven models for supporting economic advancement for workers, but many employers struggle to implement high-quality programs. And despite significant…