Nevada launches network to connect young adults with internships, apprenticeships

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation officially launched a statewide work-based learning hub, LifeWorksNV.org, for young adults in high school, post-secondary or out of school to find internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

The hub also allows educators and businesses to learn about apprenticeships, find career technical education (CTE) schools by industry and zip codes, connect to classroom speakers and find relevant work-based learning resources. The content on the site can be viewed in Spanish as well. See the website hub here.

Two years ago, while doing a focus group for a 2016 report OWINN published on barriers young adults face to training and employment, several young adults expressed concerns there was not a centralized place to find work- based learning opportunities in Nevada such as internships or apprenticeships; and that going from site to site was not effective.

OWINN later received two competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices to build on Nevada’s successful workforce initiatives and expand work-based learning opportunities. OWINN used funding from those grants to identify and aggregate work-based learning opportunities and recently connected those opportunities in developing the work-based learning hub.

“As Nevada’s economy continues to diversify and grow, work-based learning opportunities are an excellent way to connect Nevada’s young adults to potential career paths,” said Governor Sandoval. “The launch of LifeWorksNV.org will allow organizations to post internship and apprenticeship opportunities on the site while making it easier for young adults to find real-life work opportunities and build the relevant skills they will need to be competitive in the New Nevada.”

OWINN is looking to get more businesses and organizations to post internships or other on-the-job training opportunities on the hub by going to LifeWorksNV.org and clicking “Post Internships or On-the-Job Training” on the home page. OWINN has a goal of having at least 100 internships posted by the end of 2018.

The Registered Apprenticeships are already listed. Phase 2 of the work-based learning hub will focus on developing an interactive Learn & Earn Advanced-career Pathways (LEAP) framework initially developed by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and gamifying the work-based learning hub as part of a mobile friendly application young adults can download through a partnership with the Nevada Department of Education and OWINN.

“When we asked young adults about barriers keeping them from training and employment, an important quote from one of the students stood out to me: ‘How can we get experience if every job we apply to requires experience?’ We know that quality work-based learning can provide students with the experience they need to make informed decisions about career pathways; I’m hopeful this hub will serve as a resource to connect students to the many great internships, on-the-job training, and apprenticeship opportunities in the state that will help them develop the skills and experiences necessary to be prepared for 21st century careers,” said Manny Lamarre, Executive Director of OWINN.

About OWINN
The Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN) helps drive a skilled, diverse, and aligned workforce in the state of Nevada by promoting collaboration and cooperation among key entities focused on workforce development. OWINN works to address Nevada’s workforce needs by leveraging labor-market data, scaling career pathways that leads to industry-recognized credentials, expanding apprenticeships and work-based learning, and designing responsive workforce policies.

About LifeWorks
LifeWorks represents a strategic partnership between Nevada government agencies, K-16 public education, business and industry leaders working in collaboration to prepare all Nevada youth with the skills they need for jobs in the New Nevada. LifeWorks is supporting the restructure of the talent pipeline in Nevada, from grade school to career, by closing the gap between what students learn in school and what they need for high-demand careers, ensuring students are college and career ready, and on career paths in high-wage, high growth industries. LifeWorks also aims to inspire young people’s participation in planning for life beyond high school.