Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is facing a challenge when it comes to retaining its young talent after graduation. Despite being home to several higher education institutions, including Louisiana State University and Southern University, the city has struggled to keep college graduates in the area.
To combat this issue, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) has partnered with local businesses to market internship and job opportunities to college students. The initiative, launched in 2020, aims to connect employers and students through a centralized job platform and provide insights to businesses on attracting and retaining young talent.
One of the key strategic partnerships formed by BRAC is with Handshake, an online job platform used by colleges and universities. By getting local businesses on the platform, BRAC has made more opportunities visible to students, resulting in increased visibility of available jobs and internships for students online.
Small businesses, in particular, have benefitted from this partnership, as they may have previously been hesitant to engage with larger institutions like LSU. The shared job platform allows for easy access between students and employers with little to no resources, creating meaningful internship and job opportunities for local graduates.
BRAC and its partners are also working to educate employers about the best timing for student outreach and the importance of providing meaningful internship experiences. By providing resources and support, BRAC aims to ensure that all students, regardless of their discipline, have equitable access to internship opportunities.
Looking ahead, BRAC is working to expand its partnership with Baton Rouge Community College and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to ensure that all students in the area are seeing available opportunities.
The community has rallied around the initiative, recognizing the national need to stop the “brain drain” of local talent. With the help of strategic partnerships and the support of the community, Baton Rouge is working to create a vibrant and dynamic job market that will keep young talent in the area after graduation.
Moreover, historic background of this issue includes the historical lack of resources and opportunities in Baton Rouge for fresh graduates, which led to the “brain drain” issue. This problem has persisted for years, but the recent initiative by BRAC and its partners shows promise in addressing and alleviating this long-standing challenge.
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