The Impact of ABS Program Participation on Long-Term Economic Outcomes

A growing body of research suggests there is a high economic return to participation in Adult Basic Skills (ABS) programs. This research brief, from Portland State University, is the first of a series of Research Briefs that utilize data from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning (LSAL) to examine long-term impacts of ABS program participation on a range of outcome measures. This first report considers the impact on their earnings. Subsequent reports will examine the impact of participation on literacy proficiency, General Educational Development (GED) attainment, engagement in postsecondary education, and voting in general elections (a measure of civic engagement).