Questions We’re Asking
Question

Can sector-focused training help low-income adults?

Why are we asking?
The wages and earnings of low-income workers have been stagnant or declining in real terms for approximately 35 years. Nationwide, the labor market-driven growth of the low-wage workforce has become a major issue for both the business community and the public. Recent randomized controlled evaluations of both sector-based initiatives and job retention and advancement initiatives have yielded evidence of strategies that may be effective in improving job stability and increasing earnings. The WorkAdvance program combines the most successful features of these programs and can be viewed as a component of a career pathways approach.

Working Toward a Solution

Report

Encouraging Evidence on a Sector-Focused Advancement Strategy

WorkAdvance provides demand-driven skills training and a focus on jobs with career pathways. As detailed in this full report, all four programs studied greatly increased training completion and credential acquisition. Employment outcomes varied by site, with large, consistent impacts at the most experienced provider and promising results at two others.

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Podcast

Sector-Focused Training That Meets the Needs of Job Seekers and Employers

A sector-focused approach to job training can help low-income adults build skills for jobs in high-demand fields with opportunities for career growth. In this episode, MDRC researcher Richard Hendra offers lessons from WorkAdvance, a skill-building program that works closely with employers to help job seekers prepare for and enter quality jobs.

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Brief

Implementing the WorkAdvance Model

The demonstration of WorkAdvance confirmed that sectoral employment programs can increase employment and earnings among low-income individuals. This brief offers insights from providers on selecting sectors, tailoring training to employer needs, reducing attrition, securing placements that offer better wages and benefits, and helping workers plan for advancement.

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