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Does Training for the Disadvantaged Work? Evidence from the National JTPA Study.
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1997
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Labor Market ParticipationWork-integrated LearningEducationSocial Work PolicyYouth AdvocacySocial WorkProgram EvaluationWorkforce EducationInclusive EducationPovertyEmployee LearningHealth SciencesSocial InequalityPublic PolicyUnemploymentEmploymentVocational EducationNational Jtpa StudyDisadvantaged YouthLabor Force TrendLabor Market OutcomeDisadvantaged BackgroundWorkplace EducationRigorous EvaluationWorkforce DevelopmentSociologyTraining StrategiesSocial PolicyDisadvantaged Work
Employment and training strategies vary in effectiveness across different groups, and it remains unclear which approaches work best. The study evaluates 16 JTPA programs, assessing effectiveness separately for adult men, adult women, female youth, and male youth. The largest rigorous evaluation of JTPA programs shows modest successes for adults but no generalizable strategy that improves labor market outcomes for disadvantaged youth.
What employment and training strategies work or don't work? For what groups? The authors report and interpret the findings of the largest and most rigorous evaluation ever done of programs designed to increase the employment and earnings, and reduce the dependence, of America's disadvantaged. This study of 16 Job Training Partnership Act programs measures effectiveness separately for adult men, adult women, female youth, and male youth. It finds modest successes for adults but confirms that we have yet to find a generalizable strategy that increases the labor market chances of disadvantaged youth.