Strategies to Help Low-Wage Workers Advance Implementation and Final Impacts of the Work Advancement and Support Center (WASC) Demonstration

MDRC issued a report on the Work Advancement and Support Center (WASC), an innovative program designed to increase the incomes of low-wage workers. The program offered participating workers intensive employment retention and advancement services, including career coaching and access to skills training. It also offered them easier access to work supports in an effort to increase their incomes in the short run and help stabilize their employment. The findings showed that increased access to training for low-income workers appears to be a critical part of any advancement strategy, yet the earnings gains associated with participation in training may be short-lived if participants are not given more guidance about the right types of training to pursue or opportunities for additional training.