A recent study by Strada and the Business-Higher Education Forum underscores an urgent and growing challenge: while demand for work-based learning (WBL) opportunities in higher education is surging, supply continues to lag far behind. The gap is over 4 Million students nationwide. The report, Expanding Work-Based Learning Opportunities at the College Level, reveals a nationwide need for scalable, high-quality internship and apprenticeship experiences that prepare students for meaningful careers. For policymakers and educators in K-12 systems, these findings are more than just a signal—they are a call to action.
If the nation is struggling to provide sufficient WBL options for adult college students, then the challenges for high school students—particularly those in underserved urban and rural communities—will be even more daunting. The Career+ Pathways™ team at Skyepack is already responding to this challenge, designing innovative solutions that expand access to high-quality, career-connected learning for students before they even graduate high school.
A Surging Demand with Systemic Constraints
Strada’s report makes it clear: students in higher education increasingly recognize the value of internships and real-world experience in landing competitive, high-wage jobs. Employers agree, citing work-based learning as one of the most reliable indicators of career readiness. Yet despite this alignment, opportunities are limited and unevenly distributed. Capacity, funding, and logistical barriers keep many students—especially those from lower-income backgrounds—from accessing meaningful experiences.
For high school students, these barriers are magnified. Legal and regulatory limits on minors, a lack of transportation, and rigid school schedules make traditional internships or off-site experiences difficult to scale equitably. If our higher education institutions are struggling to meet demand among young adults with more flexibility and autonomy, the prospects for high schoolers require more proactive, localized solutions.
The Quality Gap—and Its Amplification in K-12
Not only is there a shortage of internships, but the report also points out that high-quality experiences—those that align with industry needs, offer structured mentorship, and build real skills—are even scarcer. This issue becomes more acute when applied to high school learners, many of whom have limited prior exposure to workplace norms, professional communication, or technical domains.
A 16-year-old student in a rural district may lack the maturity, transportation, or access to pursue a traditional WBL opportunity. Simply placing students in a job isn’t enough. To be effective, WBL for high schoolers must include intentional scaffolding, embedded support, and partnerships with employers who understand the developmental needs of youth learners.
The Urban-Rural Access Divide
Another critical takeaway from the Strada study is the disparity in access. Students in urban and rural regions are often the most disconnected from high-demand, high-wage career pathways. In rural areas, local economies may not offer enough employer variety, and long distances complicate travel to job sites. In urban areas, competition for limited opportunities is fierce, and students face complex challenges such as public safety, transit reliability, and schedule alignment with school commitments.
These inequities threaten to deepen the gap between students with access to career-building experiences and those without. If left unaddressed, the result is a workforce pipeline that draws from only a narrow pool—leaving out thousands of talented young people who simply lacked the right opportunity at the right time.
Career+ Pathways™: A Scalable, Inclusive Solution
Recognizing these challenges, Skyepack’s Career+ Pathways™ initiative is building a new model of scalable, inclusive, and industry-aligned work-based learning. By collaborating directly with employers, regional workforce leaders, and school administrators, Career+ is creating high-quality microinternships, entrepreneurial experiences and school-based enterprises designed specifically for the high school environment.
These experiences are aligned with state graduation pathways and built to remove common barriers to access. Microinternships are typically embedded within the school day, enabling students with limited transportation options to participate. Projects are co-designed with employers to ensure real-world relevance and build foundational skills in sectors like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, IT, and business.
For students who need even more structure, school-based enterprises offer opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a setting where educators and industry mentors can guide their growth. These enterprises also generate value for the school and community—creating a virtuous cycle of learning, income, and economic development.
In addition to internships and school-based enterprises, Career+ Pathways™ also empowers students through entrepreneurial experiences that cultivate creativity, problem-solving, and leadership. These programs guide students through the process of identifying real-world problems, developing solutions, and pitching their ideas—often in collaboration with local business mentors. By engaging in startup-style projects, students not only build transferable skills but also gain confidence in their ability to create value and take initiative in any career path.
A Smarter Talent Pipeline
Ultimately, expanding high-quality WBL opportunities in high school is not just a matter of student opportunity—it’s a workforce imperative. Indiana’s employers need graduates who are career-ready, credentialed, and confident in their ability to contribute from day one. By investing in scalable models like Career+ Pathways, states are not only improving educational outcomes but also creating a more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive talent development pipeline.
The Strada study offers compelling evidence that WBL works—and that demand is only growing. States now have an opportunity to lead the way in bringing these experiences to students earlier in their academic journey, helping more young people build a future that is both promising and attainable.
