One hundred thirty-three New Jersey-based employers recently received grants through the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program 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.
So far, $2.4 million was awarded for the summer cohort from the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development. OSHE said the number of internship opportunities for the summer cohort has grown by 23% over last year.
The grants, announced by Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration last month, 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.
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,” Murphy said. “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.”
“The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education aims to accelerate upward mobility for all students through equitable pathways to postsecondary and career success,” Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges said. “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.”
The employers hosting interns this summer represent a wide range of industries and sectors — from STEM, construction, energy, finance and technology to media, hospitality, retail trade and the nonprofit sectors.
