After COVID-19: Building a More Coherent and Effective Workforce Development System in the United States

After COVID-19: Building a More Coherent and Effective Workforce Development System in the United States. Brookings Institution. Harry J. Holzer. February 15, 2021

Workforce development in the United States today is spread across higher education institutions (primarily public two-year and for-profit colleges), labor market institutions, and workplaces, with public funding from a range of sources. But outcomes for students and workers are weaker than they could be, especially among disadvantaged students and displaced workers; funding for workforce development programs is insufficient and not always effective. I propose the following changes: (1) Implement reforms and additional funding in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) for postsecondary occupational training for disadvantaged students. (2) Add modest taxes on worker displacement along with new funding for retraining. (3) Create a permanent version of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants to fund partnerships among community colleges, workforce institutions, and states. Together, these actions would improve credential attainment and employment outcomes among the disadvantaged and employees at the risk of being displaced. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

[PDF format, 33 pages].

Employers, Young People, and Training and Support: Implementation Study of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program

Employers, Young People, and Training and Support: Implementation Study of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program. Urban Institute. Brett Theodos et al. January 12, 2021

In this report, we present baseline and process study findings of an evaluation of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program, which provides professional internships, mentorship and coaching, college and career skills training to high school seniors. The report focuses on the program’s operations in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Chicago, and Northern Virginia. It explains the program model and its components, describes the characteristics of participating young people and their schools and neighborhoods, discusses program implementation, quantifies attrition in the program, describes Urban Alliance’s plans for growth and change, and provides recommendations for further consideration as the program continues to evolve. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

[PDF format, 115 pages].

State Policies to Promote Shared Prosperity in Cities

State Policies to Promote Shared Prosperity in Cities. Brookings Institution. Solomon Greene et al. March 26, 2020

This framing paper connects three briefs in the State Policies to Promote Shared Prosperity in Cities series created by the Shared Prosperity Partnership. For additional insights, read the full briefs: How States Can Support Shared Prosperity by Promoting Human Capital Development; How States Can Support Shared Prosperity by Promoting Quality Jobs; and How States Can Support Shared Prosperity by Promoting Affordable Rental Housing. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

[PDF format].

Meet the Millions Of Young Adults Who Are Out Of Work

Meet the Millions Of Young Adults Who Are Out Of Work. Brookings Institution. Martha Ross and Natalie Holmes. April 9, 2019

Helping young people prepare to engage in work and life as productive adults is a central challenge for any society. In theory, the path to employment providing financial security in adulthood is simple: finish high school, enroll in and complete college or training that is affordable and a good fit, gain some work experience along the way, and launch a career. But given that 17 percent of young adults ages 18 to 24 are out of work in mid to large cities in the U.S., totaling 2.3 million young people, this path does not appear to work equally well for all, particularly in light of the effects of the Great Recession and the declining rates of employment among teens and young adults since about 2000. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

[PDF format, 36 pages].

Infographic, methods and data sources, and data appendix can be downloaded here – https://www.brookings.edu/research/young-adults-who-are-out-of-work/

Public Funding for Job Training at the State and Local Level: An Examination of Massachusetts, Texas, and Washington

Public Funding for Job Training at the State and Local Level: An Examination of Massachusetts, Texas, and Washington. Urban Institute. Kelly S. Mikelson, Ian Hecker. June 14, 2018

 To provide a more complete picture of federal, state, and local job training investments, this report describes public expenditures for three states—Massachusetts, Texas, and Washington—and five cities—Austin, Boston, Houston, Seattle, and Worcester. Compared with the federally-funded Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, state and local investments in workforce training and related services is substantial, in some cases surpassing federal funding. States and localities demonstrate six strategies to manage funding—seeking diverse revenue sources, leveraging public- and private-funding, braiding and blending funding, using dedicated fees for training, funding sector-based training initiatives, and collaborating and coordinating to fill training gaps. [Note: contains copyrighted material].

 [PDF format, 77 pages].