This month, I was  excited to host an interactive and purposeful event centered around creating successful internship experiences in collaboration with my colleagues at the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Chamber and our Cincinnati Intern Network Connection (CINC) initiative. 

The event featured a panel of university representatives from University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and Mount St. Joseph University as well as a working session facilitated by Dr. Kevin Sansberry II, one of the Workforce Innovation Center’s lead consultants and founder of KEVRA: The culture company.  These experts led an insightful discussion about current college-track Gen Z students, successful components of meaningful internships for both the employer and the intern, and the workplace culture and hiring needs of young professionals seeking work experience through internships.  

The Cincinnati Chamber’s strategic plan is focused on growth, with one of our key priorities being to grow the population. In order to grow our region, we need more Gen Z college students and graduates to choose to stay in Cincinnati or to move here after they graduate from an institution elsewhere. That is one reason why we put together our first Gen-Z in the Workforce report, to help us better understand this unique population and to encourage our broader community to better attract, retain and advance this important population in our region.  

We know that people make life decisions based on their work experiences and a meaningful internship experience can be a catalyst for someone choosing to stay in the Cincinnati region and make a life here. For additional thoughts on how you might build a successful internship, check out my colleague Dominica Brantley’s blog post – “Are You Prepared for your Summer Interns?" And if you’d like additional support to create a more fully integrated internship in your organization, please let us know. While you’re thinking of your college interns, keep a lookout for our next Gen Z White Paper we are releasing this spring focused on those in Gen Z who are STARs or Skilled Through Alternate Routes. We are excited to showcase the great talent in our region across sectors and backgrounds and to support your team in creating workplaces where people thrive. Let us know how else we can help your workplace! Click to learn more about the Workforce Innovation Center's Consulting Services and Resources or email me to talk more about your needs! 

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any industrialized nation, a rate that globally is only surpassed by El Salvador, Cuba, Rwanda and Turkmenistan. Incarceration can impact an individual and their family for a lifetime, creating lasting barriers to employment, housing, and stability. With a national recidivism rate of 66% (percent of individuals who return to prison within 3 years), the cycle continues—unless real opportunities for change exist.

Breaking this cycle requires more than good intentions. It demands action, investment, and community-wide support.

Join us on Thursday, May 1st, to hear from local leaders about why they’re passionate about helping people rebuild after incarceration—and how we can come together to expand programs that make a real difference.

Doors open for seating at 5:40. Refreshments will be provided, and parking is free in the CityLink Center front parking lot.

In 2025, we are continuing the successful Employer Tours program we launched in 2024! Designed to connect local employers with Cincinnati’s workforce organizations, these tours provide host employers the chance to showcase their workplaces and share an inside look at host companies, their facilities, jobs, benefits, and culture, helping workforce organizations better match their clients to job opportunities and helping employers to fill their open roles.

Join us for the next tour in the program on Thursday, May 15th from 10-11 a.m. at GMi Companies in Lebanon, OH. This tour will give attendees a firsthand look at the facilities of a quality local  manufacturer as well as the opportunity to learn more about the unique benefits of employment with GMi Companies. 

If you’re interested in attending this tour or any future events in the Employer Tours program, click here to register. Be sure to check in with this form regularly for updates as we add new tours to the schedule.

If you are interested in hosting a tour of your workplace, please fill out this form and we will contact you shortly about arranging your tour. 

We are recapping all Employer Tours on the Workforce Innovation Center blog, where we can share this information with job seekers, educational institutions, and workforce partners across the region.

This program is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Hamilton County, Ohio by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are grateful to the support of the Hamilton County Commissioners in funding this program.

CINC is a program for interns and co-ops living and working in the Cincinnati region this summer. The CINC Program is designed for interns to make connections and get to know more about our region while considering future career possibilities. We do this by offering access to insights, curated content, and a series of events this summer, all for FREE!

Ensure your summer interns get the most out of their experience and get registered for the CINC kick-off event on June 12.

Over the next few weeks, we will be showcasing data about various segments of our workforce in the Cincinnati region. This data Will give you an idea of the concentration of jobs among these segments as well as the economic benefit they derive.

There are about 58,788 Hispanic or Latino workers employed in the Cincinnati region. The top 20 industries for Hispanic or Latino workers have 20,486 Hispanic or Latino employees. Full-service Restaurants; Limited-Service Restaurants; General Warehousing and Storage; Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices; and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals make up the top five. The top 20 industries generate $1.2 billion in earnings for Hispanic or Latino workers, $1.1 billion in earnings for workers throughout the Cincinnati economy, and create another 16,339 jobs in the Cincinnati region. 

The Workforce Innovation Center offers a wealth of services and resources to help companies improve their business practices, create a more connected regional workforce ecosystem, and strengthen the economic prosperity of the Greater Cincinnati Region. From customized consulting services to tours of quality local employers, our services and resources are designed to assist you in addressing your workforce and talent needs, whatever they may be. Click a section below to learn more!

NEWS OF INTEREST

Gen Z is changing the game for salary negotiations. Here's who's winning. – Cincinnati Business Courier

Takeaways From Our Deep Dive on Workforce and Workers’ Rights Funding - Inside Philanthropy

Workplace Belonging: Perk or Priority? - Medium

How Gen Z Is Shaping the Future of Work - SHRM

JUST Report 2024 Americans’ Views on Business Survey – JUST Capital 

This company believes an extremely generous paid parental leave is one of the best ways to retain employees - Fortune

New grads' top job priority is a familiar one, but they have some bold demands – Cincinnati Business Courier

Affordable childcare seemed like an impossible task. This is the simple way Vermont pulled it off – Fast Company

Skilled independent workers earn $1.5T as freelancing becomes intentional career path – Cincinnati Business Courier