This report presents findings of a random assignment evaluation of the WorkAdvance model which focused on sectoral-based career pathways. Four providers (Per Scholas, St. Nicks Alliance, Madison Strategies Group, and Towards Employment) implemented the WorkAdvance model between June 2011 and June 2013. There were 2,564 study participants. The study findings identify WorkAdvance’s long-term impacts on participants’ employment and earnings and include a cost-benefit analysis to assess the effects of WorkAdvance model from the perspectives of the participants, the government, and society.

This Urban Institute report offers a snapshot of frontline retail workers’ characteristics, circumstances that call for more working hours, and strategies that might be used to retain and advance workers in this industry. It also highlights training opportunities in the retail industry and those who take advantage of these opportunities to advance in retail careers.

The Aspen Institute will host a webinar on May 29, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss the Question Bank tool designed to build stronger relationships with retail industry employers. The webinar will also feature practitioner perspectives on how to use the tool as a strategy for worker retention and advancement. Speakers include representatives from the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and the Chicago Jobs Council.

This Jobs for the Future research report describes how short-term apprenticeship programs can be integrated into a full career ladder. It identifies how shorter apprenticeships (18 months or less) might represent stackable rungs on the career ladder, compared to more traditional apprenticeship programs that are longer in length. The report includes recommendations for employers as well as government to support expanding stackable apprenticeships.

In 2009, Washington, D.C. began offering two years of full-day public preschool, citing literature on better school performance and higher parental work hours that come with preschool enrollment. This report from American Progress studies the effects of D.C.’s program on maternal labor force participation (LFP) and finds that the program caused a 10-percentage point increase in maternal LFP, as well as a large increase in employment. The effects come mainly from low- and high-income women, since LFP for middle-income families remained the same. Overall, the researchers conclude that universal full-day preschool positively affects maternal labor supply and suggests that the United States should consider expanding child care for all.

This video from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation highlights the findings of a large-scale rigorous research study on the effectiveness of career pathways programs. Under the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) study, an evaluation was conducted to assess nine innovative career pathways programs around the country.

This brief comes from an event hosted by the Center for Law and Social Policy on the importance of career pathways and evidence-informed practices that can bolster career pathway interventions. The research shows positive earnings and educational results from career pathway programs, although some study results have provided mixed reviews of their effectiveness. To better evaluate career pathway outcomes, the report emphasizes the need to collect better data and more indicators of performance, build more awareness between workforce development and child and adult education systems, and eliminate TANF work requirements that constrain funding on a narrow scope of work activities. The report ends with components of effective career pathway interventions and includes tangible guiding and research questions for practitioners and program designers.

This brief from the Urban Institute analyzes young adults who progressed through initial career pathway programs to eventually secure middle-skill jobs in their industries. Though Career Pathway programs are a promising model, there is less data available about workers who move past the initial entry level job and on to higher wages. The findings from the data used for this brief show that obtaining more than one credential can support career advancement.