More than 900 students from throughout the U.S., including Indiana, are expected to participate in a national Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference April 24-26 in Indianapolis.
That the conference is being held in our state is worthy of celebration.
Regrettably, the future of JAG in Indiana is in jeopardy. The current Indiana House budget does not include funding for JAG. It is essential that full funding be restored and the day-to-day administration of the program be maintained by local nonprofit workforce development boards.
JAG is a national workforce preparation program that provides opportunities for success to students who have experienced challenging or traumatic life experiences. Indiana’s JAG program is among the best in the nation.
The workforce development boards that oversee the program are dedicated to developing, attracting and retaining talent. These organizations are led by regional employers, who often participate in providing JAG students with real-world projects and work experiences.
Students learn a host of in-demand employability skills and are given a proven bridge to post-secondary education, the workforce or other career enhancing opportunities. In Indiana, JAG was recently expanded to 250 programs and it is expected that 10,000 students will participate annually.
The JAG graduation rate of 96.6% in 2024 was higher than the overall state high school graduation rate of 90.2%. Those who graduated earned $20.4 million in scholarships.
Moreover, mid-year 2024, JAG statewide registered more than 2,000 engagements with employers. It has a job placement rate of 55.2%, making it a premier generator of talent to meet the needs of employers.
Workforce pipeline
It’s more than an education program. It is an essential multifaceted experience that directly links to building and sustaining the workforces in our region and state.
Students learn and compete in such areas as career decision making, business planning, financial literacy, project-based learning, and prepared speaking.
Combined, EmployIndy and the Region 5 Workforce Development Board oversee a total of 48 JAG programs in central Indiana. Ten of our high-achieving JAG students are expected to participate in the national conference.
Students, like Riley Coots of Pendleton High School, are our future workforce leaders.
“I joined JAG to gain a competitive edge in my professional life,” Coots says. “I have learned the importance of time management, especially when balancing work and school. Honing my skills and preparing for my next life phase was why I joined JAG; however, I have gained much more than I expected regarding personal growth.”
Adds Lilliana Mendoza of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis: “JAG gives you a place to be your best. My JAG specialist is very supportive and I think the check-ins (after graduation) will help keep me accountable as I pursue my degree.”
We are proud to have the national conference in Indiana to celebrate not only the country’s talent but the achievements of our state’s young people under the stewardship of Indiana’s workforce development boards.
We can ill afford to deny students such a powerful opportunity and ignore the impact of a workforce program that works, especially as our region focuses on supplying our employers with enough skilled talent to ensure a robust economy for years to come.