Research Shows the Effectiveness of Workforce Programs

"Federal investments in workforce development help low income adults and youth find jobs, improve their earnings and contribute to their communities. Although the results of an experimental evaluation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) are not yet available, several rigorous, quasi-experimental evaluations conducted since 2000 have demonstrated the value of training and workforce services, especially for disadvantaged individuals. The national studies tend to average out results from a wide range of local approaches and consequently mask the success of promising workforce strategies that are increasingly being used in the field and are gaining wider recognition by the policy community. Some of the most promising advances are the use of sector-focused workforce strategies to meet the needs of employers and low-income, low-skilled individuals and integrated education and training strategies that blend basic skills instruction with occupational skills preparation (p.1-2). (Abstractor: Author)

"A 2005 study found that Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services in seven states generate employment and earnings gains for adults and dislocated workers. Individuals receiving WIA services are more likely to be employed (by about 10 percentage points) and to have higher earnings (by about $800 per quarter in 2000 dollars) than those who have not received services. In addition, participants in WIA programs are less likely than non-participants to receive public assistance." (p.1) "A 2008 report found positive outcomes for WIA Adult participants in 12 states, concluding that there are 'large and immediate impacts on earnings and employment for individuals who participate in the WIA Adult program."(p.1) "A 2008 evaluation of the Youth Opportunity Grant program found positive results, noting increased educational attainment, Pell Grant receipt, labor market participation, and employment rates and earnings for more than 90,000 program participants." (p.1) "A 2011 evaluation of Washington State workforce programs—one of only a few net impact evaluations conducted by a state—revealed that WIA services boost employment and earnings for adults, dislocated workers and youth. Adults and youth receiving WIA services have higher employment rates and higher earnings than non-participants three quarters following participation." (p.1) "An experimental study of three sector-focused training programs found positive impacts for low-income, disadvantaged workers and job seekers. Participants were more likely to work, work in jobs with higher wages and hold jobs that offer benefits (such as health insurance)." (p.2) "A quasi-experimental evaluation of Capital IDEA, a sector-focused training program in Austin, Texas found substantial employment, earnings, and Unemployment Insurance-related impacts relative to a comparison group receiving low-intensity one-stop center services." (p.2) "A recent study found that Washington State’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) participants are 56 percent more likely than regular adult education students to earn college credit, 26 percent more likely to earn a certificate or degree, and 19 percent more likely to achieve learning gains on basic skills tests. Another study found that I-BEST participants experience higher employment rates and earnings than non-participants three quarters after leaving the program" (p.2). (Abstractor: Author and Website Staff)

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2011
• Author(s): Ridley, Neil; Kenefick, Elizabeth
• Organizational Author(s): The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
• Funding Source: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies