PROJECT NEWS: NWI Works - Building Indiana’s First Integrated Workforce System?
Northwest Indiana does not have a jobs problem—it has a system problem.
With over 74,000 open jobs and 71% of employers reporting talent shortages, the region’s growth is constrained not by opportunity, but by the lack of a coordinated system that prepares adults quickly and effectively for work.
Today’s workforce landscape is fragmented. Education, workforce programs, and social services operate in silos—creating a “maze” for adults seeking to advance and leaving employers without reliable talent pipelines. Training pathways often take years, while employers need workers ready in weeks or months.
NWI Works is solving this by building a fully integrated workforce system—designed for speed, scale, and outcomes.
The Innovation: From Programs to a Unified System
NWI Works aligns four critical elements—Pathways, Process, Programs, and Place—into one coordinated system that connects residents to careers and employers to talent at scale .
At the center of this system are Opportunity Hubs—community-based workforce infrastructure that serve as the front door to employment, integrating:
Career navigation and barrier removal
Work-based learning and employer engagement
Adult education and credentialed training
Wraparound services (childcare, transportation, health)
These hubs are designed to serve 5,000–7,500 residents annually and place 1,000+ into quality jobs, while driving measurable regional economic growth .
Filling the “Missing Middle” for Adult Workers
The critical gap in today’s system is not advanced training—it is work readiness and continuous advancement for adults who have been left behind.
NWI Works fills this gap through a stacked, integrated model:
1. Fast Track to Top Jobs Bootcamp (Entry Point)
A rapid, employer-designed program focused on work ethic, communication, reliability, and professionalism—the skills employers say are missing most.
→ Delivers job-ready candidates in weeks, not years
2. Work-Based Learning & Real Experience
Participants immediately engage in job shadows, internships, and micro-placements, accelerating readiness and retention.
3. CTE & Credentialed Training (Career Pathways)
Aligned to high-demand sectors (manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, IT, trades), providing stackable credentials and advancement pathways.
4. Continuous Career Advancement
Through coaching, employer partnerships, and integrated supports, workers move from entry-level to family-sustaining careers.
What Makes This Different
NWI Works is not adding another program—it is integrating the system.
Single intake, navigation, and accountability structure across partners
Employer-led design of training and pathways
Co-located services that remove barriers to participation
Real-time data and outcomes tracking tied to funding and performance
Public-private co-investment model aligned with federal direction
This approach reflects the future of workforce development: regional, employer-driven, and outcome-based systems—not isolated programs .
Outcomes That Matter
NWI Works is designed to deliver measurable, scalable results:
1,000+ annual job placements
20–30% wage increases for participants
$20M+ regional economic impact within 3–5 years
Faster hiring cycles and reduced employer training costs
Increased labor force participation in distressed communities
Why This Matters for Indiana
This model positions Indiana as a national leader in workforce system integration:
Aligns directly with federal priorities: outcomes-based funding, sector partnerships, and hub-based delivery systems
Creates a replicable blueprint for scaling across regions
Strengthens economic competitiveness by ensuring employers can grow
Expands opportunity for adults who have been disconnected from career pathways
The Opportunity
Indiana has the chance to lead the country in solving the workforce crisis—not by building more programs, but by building a system that delivers talent at scale.
NWI Works is that system. Visit www.nwiworks.org to learn more.