Developing a Practitioner-Led Research Agenda for Sector Programs

In February 2024, MDRC organized a full-day meeting with nonprofit leaders from across the country to build upon the existing research on the effectiveness of sector programs, which prepare job seekers for high-quality employment in specific industries and occupations. It provided space for leaders in the workforce development field to talk about their current challenges and priorities, discuss the future of the field, and develop a practitioner-led research agenda that could be adopted by researchers in partnership with practitioners. This MDRC brief highlights the main areas in which evidence is needed to improve organizations’ day-to-day operations. It describes key research questions and underlying themes that emerged from meeting discussions and synthesizes insights into a practitioner-led research agenda.