Browse Our Community Library

Past recessions in the US have left invaluable lessons for policymakers. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the US experienced a rise in unemployment. As a result, the Department of Labor funded various projects to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of...

Four resources from Workforce System Strategies (WSS) highlight approaches for employers to promote and implement inclusive employment practices. Learn more about how community-based organizations can implement career bridge programs, the use and...

Apprenticeships provide individuals with on-the-job training and contextualized learning. For over 80 years, US DOL has overseen the Registered Apprenticeship (RA) system, in partnership with State Apprenticeship Agencies. Today there are about...

How do you know if your program or initiative is effective? How do you gather proven practices or implement evidence-based practices? To respond to these questions, WSS presents three research and evaluation resources! The following resources...

Effective workforce development programs can help meet the needs of participants and employers. However, the delivery of such programs requires thoughtful planning and implementation. These resources discuss how research results and accountability...

In recent years, decision makers have become interested in behavioral science and its potential to motivate and improve results for program participants. US DOL’s Behavioral Interventions (DOL-BI) project explores how these interventions can...

In the gig economy, self-employed and contingent workers find work through digital platforms and other avenues. Developing strategies to serve these freelance or gig workers is challenging, and public workforce agencies rely on research about the...

Focuses on assessing the effectiveness of labor market policies, including subsidized employment, training, and job search assistance.

Explores the reasoning, process, outcomes, and lessons learned by a workforce policy change in Michigan that shifted away from emphasizing short-term job search and job placement services towards longer-term investment in training for in-demand...

Introduces basic concepts for return on investment (ROI) in workforce development programs and distinguishes the ROIs estimated for workforce programs from those estimated for financial investments or capital projects.