Since the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased unemployment rates in low-income populations, SNAP agencies must rapidly scale up and adapt their employment and training support systems amidst economic, public health, and regulatory uncertainties. On July 9, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, the American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, American Enterprise Institute, and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to discuss SNAP Employment and Training programs and the continued effects of unemployment on SNAP agency operations as well as their surrounding communities and local job sectors.

This brief covers the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult employment and incomes among those that have encountered economic hardship and have been able to access unemployment benefits. The brief identifies the disproportionate losses by income and race and the time lag between filing for and receiving unemployment insurance benefits. The effects were measured by reviewing findings of the Coronavirus Tracing Survey, a nationally representative survey of nonelderly adults, which was conducted in May 2020.

This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation white paper is a follow-up to a roundtable convened in January 2019 which examined the status of and future directions for employment and training research. The white paper covers three key areas: what has been learned from prior research studies and what are the current federally funded research and evaluation efforts on employment and training programs for low-income populations; what contextual factors and trends will affect the labor market and consequently low-income workers’ future employment and earning prospects; and what topics and questions arose as common themes in roundtable discussions.

On July 15, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, there will be a virtual tour of the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse, a new resource funded by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families. Designed to meet the needs of employment service providers and support TANF administrators’ use of evidence-based practices, the Pathways Clearinghouse provides free, reliable, and accessible information about what works to help job seekers with low incomes find and sustain employment. The launch event will feature a discussion with an expert panel, including Naomi Goldstein and Kim Clum from OPRE, to explore how the website identifies interventions designed to improve employment outcomes, reduce employment challenges, and support self-sufficiency for people with low incomes.

This report illustrates the demand for digital literacy skills and its consequences. The report contains data on the lack of digital literacy within the current workforce, where digital skill gaps occur across industries and occupations, and how digital skill gaps affect worker earnings and business competitiveness. The report also presents findings about digital skill gaps by demographic groups to include age, sex and race.

This tool relies on state-provided or other public data to support early childhood stakeholders in calculating the funds needed to increase early childhood workforce qualifications. The calculator enables the user to set the program type (for example, Head Start, Pre-K, or other center-based programs), child age group (infant-toddler and/or pre-K), and teacher category (lead and/or assistant teacher). Other data to be inputted include number of early childhood educators, current educational qualifications of the existing workforce; whether the teacher has the required credentials; and average tuition costs, on a statewide basis, for two-year and four-year degree programs.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance has issued a set of resources on reemployment services that are available for unemployment insurance claimants and employer recruitment services. These tools and strategies for supporting service delivery include My Reemployment Plan, Pathway to Reemployment Framework, and information about Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments Grants.

This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report covers results of the second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program from the beginning of the Program (September 30, 2015) through its fourth year (September 29, 2019). This assessment examines the characteristics of HPOG 2.0 program participants, the activities in which they engaged, and their employment outcomes.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration published this Training and Employment Notice for stakeholders in the public workforce system to help delineate elements of credential programs and to identify credentials that support skill acquisition for quality in-demand jobs that meet business community needs. The Notice also includes four attachments covering credential resources, credit for prior learning, some models of existing industry-recognized stackable credentials, and references.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration has compiled a list of resources from the 24 Youth CareerConnect grantees on program management strategies. These resources cover case management as well as monitoring and participant files, sustainability of Youth CareerConnect partnerships, and other relevant guidance for programs addressing the needs of youth. Also included are data and general information about the Youth CareerConnect program, engagement strategies, and career and education strategies.