WBL Framework

Work-Based Learning: From Information to Action

Contributors
Krysti Specht Director
Jonathan Payne Director
Kassandra McGhee Director
Daniel Minty Manager
Shannon Sihoe Senior Manager

Welcome to the Work-Based Learning Framework.

This guide provides everything you need to know about work-based learning and how to use it to drive success for workers, learners, and employers.

Work-based learning supports people of all ages to build the skills they need to access quality jobs and meet their career goals. At its core, work-based learning is a comprehensive career preparation strategy that connects structured instruction with valuable workplace experiences, giving people a direct route to better jobs. You can enter or exit a work-based learning experience at any stage in your career, making it a powerful tool for both early exposure and lifelong advancement. When done well, it transforms educational concepts into practical skills that help high school students, college learners, and adults at all stages of life.

High-quality work-based learning leads not only to better employment outcomes, such as higher wages, but also addresses employers’ critical need for a steady supply of highly skilled talent. The result is greater economic mobility, a stronger workforce, and a more competitive economy.

A group of people in lab coats and safety glasses observe a man operating a milling machine in a workshop or laboratory setting.

Work-Based Learning Goals

  • Discover Careers
    Explore personal interests and strengths to help inform education and training options that meet individual career goals.
  • Create Professional Contacts
    Make and grow professional connections to open doors, learn from mentors, and improve job and career prospects.
  • Develop Practical Skills
    Develop employability and technical skills through hands-on learning that connects structured instruction with real-world workplace activities.
Four people have a discussion in a modern office, with laptops, tablets, and papers on the table. A man stands speaking, while three others sit and listen. A chalkboard with notes is behind them.

Development of the Framework

Jobs for the Future (JFF) developed this Work-Based Learning Framework by drawing on more than a decade of experience collaborating with hundreds of partners at the local, regional, state, and national levels. We also conducted a comprehensive review of national research, theory, and promising practices to identify meaningful updates to our 2017 framework.

The result is a stronger, more impactful tool with:

  • Quality Indicators—Clear benchmarks to assess program effectiveness
  • Program Exemplars—Real-world examples showing how to apply the framework

Designed to be both actionable and inspiring, JFF’s new framework supports organizational and system leaders as they design, develop, implement, and improve work-based learning strategies that drive success for both participants and employers.

Framework in Detail

The Work-Based Learning Framework outlines a comprehensive career preparation strategy that connects structured instruction with real-world workplace experiences. It has four stages: career awareness, career exploration, career preparation, and career experience.

Quality Indicators

The quality indicators are clear benchmarks for assessing the effectiveness of work-based learning programs. They also provide a structure that educators, employers, workforce professionals, and policymakers can use to design and implement high-quality work-based learning experiences.

Program Exemplars

Program exemplars are work-based learning programs that bring the quality indicators to life. They demonstrate best practices for equipping participants with the skills, experiences, and supports needed for career readiness and success.

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While this resource was developed with funding from the Education Innovation and Research grant program, it does not necessarily represent U.S. Department of Education policy, and endorsement by the federal government should not be assumed.