7-25-2024 8:12pm

ICYMI: New Jersey Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program Strengthens Equity, Supports Nearly 580 Paid Internships for College Students and Recent Graduates

Donnella Tilery Editor

TRENTON – Today, the Murphy Administration is announcing that 133 New Jersey-based employers have received grants through the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program (“Career Accelerator”) to provide 574 paid summer internships to New Jersey college students, including those who currently attend or graduated from an in-state college or university in the last 12 months or are New Jersey residents attending a college out-of-state. The grants are supporting students and graduates with opportunities that pay $20 per hour and require a commitment of 150-200 hours over a 10-week summer period.

This summer marks the third year in which the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) has administered and coordinated Career Accelerator. Supported by $2.4 million from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, OSHE has grown the number of internship opportunities for the summer 2024 cohort by 23 percent over last year. To ensure students gain valuable skills, participating employers must provide a structured learning experience by assigning interns a designated supervisor who provides feedback aligned to learning objectives and goals. Additionally, this year, Career Accelerator-sponsored interns are receiving six months of free access to LinkedIn Learning.

“Infusing our state businesses with local talent from our esteemed colleges and universities not only supports New Jersey’s innovation economy but also builds a stronger and more prosperous state,” said Governor Murphy. “By investing in paid internships, we are ensuring that New Jersey’s diverse talent pool has strong incentives to develop their skills and professional networks with Garden State employers of all sizes while also getting the pay they deserve and need to thrive.”

Research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers stresses the importance of experiential learning opportunities to postsecondary students’ career success and also shows, when internships are paid, equity and access to opportunity for all students is greater.

“The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education aims to accelerate upward mobility for all students through equitable pathways to postsecondary and career success,” said Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges. “Through the Career Accelerator we are making sure students gain meaningful experiential learning aligned with their academic pursuits and are removing financial barriers to participation for students typically underrepresented in hands-on, paid internships—often women, students of color, and those first in their family to go to college. Leveling the playing field in this way generates more opportunity for all students and strengthens their college pay off.”

“Paid internships are crucial for developing a strong workforce and supporting New Jersey businesses across a range of industries,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “By addressing the skills gap and ensuring that students are well-prepared for the workforce, we are investing to establish stronger local talent pipelines that ultimately support the economic health and continued development of our state. Together with our partners in OSHE, we are committed to fostering a robust and dynamic workforce ready to meet the demands of our evolving economy.”

The employers hosting interns in summer 2024 represent a wide range of industries and sectors—from STEM, construction, energy, finance and technology to media, hospitality, retail trade, and the non-profit sectors.

Learn more about the Career Accelerator at https://www.nj.gov/highereducation/internshipgrantprogram.shtml. New Jersey-based employers interested in future cycles of the program can express interest with this form.