2025 Program Year Summary
In 2025, the Institute for Workforce Excellence continued to advance work-based learning and employer talent strategy across Indiana, achieving significant growth through our flagship initiative, Work and Learn Indiana (WLI). This year, more than 460 new employers joined the platform—and over 4,500 new students engaged with the system to access meaningful experiential learning opportunities.
The Institute is continuing to partner with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to help administer the state’s Employment Aid Readiness Network (EARN) Indiana funds. As of this report, $1.4 million from the 2024–2025 wave has been granted, with reporting for the current waves continuing into 2026. To strengthen employer readiness and compliance in this space, the Institute also launched a new paid advanced employer workshop series, focused on work-based learning development, compliance, and assessment.
In 2025, engagement in the Institute’s skills-based talent strategy workshops continued to rise. Over a six-month period and 12 workshops, 173 individuals representing 85 employers attended. To date, 412 individuals representing 249 employers have attended skills-based talent workshops.
The Institute also worked with a broad range of partners to expand skills-based talent implementation, including: Charitable Advisors, Eli Lilly and Company, Probation Officers Professional Association of Indiana and the Indiana State Personnel Department. The Skills First Talent Forum kickoff took place in September along with additional trainings offered in support of EmployIndy’s Company Culture Cohort and Hendricks College Network partnership with HR Squaretable.
Our broader workforce initiatives also expanded significantly. In partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Institute hosted Indiana’s first Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy®, engaging nearly 35 workforce leaders statewide.
The Institute launched the new Workforce First Employer designation, spotlighting organizations commitment to strong talent strategies, and convened two major statewide events: the Workforce Summit, attracting nearly 300 attendees, and the Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference, which welcomed more than 420 participants in February.
Additionally, our collaboration with the Indiana Department of Education and workforce leaders resulted in the launch of the Work-Based Learning Resource Hub on Work and Learn Indiana, which saw strong early adoption, including 826 views in October alone.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Institute will celebrate two major milestones: the 25th anniversary of Work and Learn Indiana and the 20th year of the Impact Awards. We are preparing to host the second TPM Academy® and expand it to additional regions across the state.
The Institute will deepen its role in the work-based learning landscape by formalizing new vendor partnerships to streamline access to EARN Indiana funds for employers and learners. Additionally, we will begin designating Workforce First Employers and broadening programming and partnership services to support employers’ evolving and diverse talent needs.
Through continued collaboration, innovation, and statewide engagement, the Institute remains committed to building a robust talent ecosystem that empowers employers, educators, and learners across Indiana.
