CONNECTING STUDENTS TO CAREERS BEFORE CAREER DECISIONS ARE MADE
Developing a Community Workforce Engagement Framework
A Human Capital Development Approach to Career Awareness, Workforce Readiness, and Talent Pipeline Development
Many students make career decisions without ever experiencing the industries, employers, and career pathways available within their own communities.
This project introduces the Community Workforce Engagement Framework, a Human Capital Development approach that helps communities intentionally connect students with authentic workforce experiences before career decisions are made.
Supported by a practical implementation toolkit, the framework helps educators, employers, workforce organizations, and community partners work together to expand career awareness through existing community opportunities.
PROJECT PURPOSE
RESEARCH QUESTION
How can communities better leverage existing workforce engagement opportunities to increase career awareness, strengthen workforce readiness, and support long-term talent pipeline development?
The purpose of this project was to develop the Community Workforce Engagement Framework, a scalable approach that helps communities intentionally connect students with authentic workforce experiences.
Rather than creating new programs, the framework helps communities organize and leverage existing workforce engagement opportunities, including conferences, employer events, facility tours, and other real-world experiences, to support informed career exploration.
The Community Workforce Engagement Framework provides a scalable, seven-step process for helping communities leverage existing workforce engagement opportunities to expand career awareness, strengthen workforce readiness, and support long-term talent pipeline development. Grounded in Human Capital Development theory and informed by experiential learning, community partnerships, asset-based community development, systems leadership, and collective impact, the framework offers a practical approach that can be adapted across diverse communities.
Community Workforce Engagement Toolkit
The Community Workforce Engagement Toolkit provides practical worksheets designed to help communities implement the Community Workforce Engagement Framework.
These resources support organizations in identifying workforce engagement opportunities, planning meaningful experiences, and helping students reflect on what they learn.
Download Toolkit Resources
Research Focus Areas
Career Awareness
Talent Pipeline Development
Workforce Exposure
Students cannot pursue careers they do not know exist. Career awareness helps students explore industries, occupations, education pathways, and future possibilities before making career decisions. Authentic workforce experiences empower students to make more informed choices about their future.
Workforce Exposure
Talent Pipeline Development
Workforce Exposure
Workforce exposure connects students with real industries, workplaces, and professionals. Through conferences, facility tours, employer visits, and other authentic experiences, students gain a deeper understanding of careers, workplace expectations, and opportunities within their communities.
Talent Pipeline Development
Talent Pipeline Development
Industry-Education Partnerships
Workforce readiness extends beyond technical skills. Authentic workforce experiences help students develop professionalism, communication, confidence, and workplace expectations that prepare them for education, training, and careers.
Industry-Education Partnerships
Industry-Education Partnerships
Industry-Education Partnerships
Meaningful workforce engagement depends on collaboration among educators, employers, workforce organizations, and community partners. Together, they create authentic career exploration opportunities by leveraging existing community assets.
Human Capital Development
Industry-Education Partnerships
Human Capital Development
Human Capital Development emphasizes helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential. This framework applies those principles to create meaningful workforce experiences that benefit students, employers, and communities.
workforce Readiness
Industry-Education Partnerships
Human Capital Development
Workforce readiness extends beyond technical skills. Authentic workforce experiences help students develop professionalism, communication, confidence, and workplace expectations that prepare them for future education, training, and careers.
SCALABLE IMPACT
The Community Workforce Engagement Framework was intentionally designed to be scalable.
Because it builds upon existing community assets rather than requiring new programs, the framework can be adapted by schools, nonprofit organizations, workforce organizations, employers, and communities of any size.
Whether implemented locally or expanded regionally, the framework provides a repeatable approach that grows through collaboration, partnerships, and continuous improvement.