SALT LAKE CITY (April. 1, 2021) — Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson are excited to announce an initiative to expand Utah’s returnship opportunities. Returnships provide an important opportunity for those re-entering the workforce after an absence. They function similarly to internships and provide participants an opportunity to build their resumes for future professional success.
In addition to an executive order for state agencies to create more opportunities, $15 million in new grant funding will be initiated for the Learn & Work program. The Learn & Work program supplies funding to Utah colleges and universities to provide no-cost training to qualified students. Programs, including returnships developed between education and industry partners, will be prioritized for funding.
Executive Order 2021-8, Expanding Return to Work and Returnship Opportunities in Utah, will require state agencies to identify new returnship opportunities that can be offered. Utah state government will be the first state nationwide to offer returnships.
“We need industry, government and education to come together and help individuals who want to re engage in the economy find meaningful professional opportunities. We also want to optimize training opportunities through our local colleges and universities,” said Lt. Gov. Henderson. “We also want our state agencies creating more returnship opportunities for those who are re-entering the workforce.”
Learn & Work in Utah programs will continue to support educational and training pathways in partnership with employers providing resume-building experiences. The success of the original round of Learn & Work in Utah, launched in the summer of 2020, resulted in the State Legislature providing additional funding to support skills-development courses throughout the state. Talent Ready Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education are working closely together to launch the application for another round of funding starting on April 1, 2021.
Learn & Work in Utah will aid individuals by providing tuition assistance to those who enroll in short-term training programs to re-enter or upgrade to more stable workforce positions. Career opportunities will be found in numerous high-impact industries, including computer science, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and business.
“The Utah System of Higher Education is proud to partner with our local employers through Learn & Work in Utah,” said Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education. “Our training programs and partnerships with employers are intended to connect individuals with career opportunities while providing employers with a well-prepared workforce.”
