This brief from Mathematica Policy Research highlights a newer practice in college settings called competency-based education (CBE), which allows students to work at their own pace towards a credential, often meeting workforce demands faster than traditionally paced programs. This brief explores the current research that exists on this model, offers policy recommendations, and provides examples of colleges currently operating CBE models.

This report from MDRC evaluates the implementation and impacts of New York City's Summer Youth Employment Program, the nation's largest of its kind. It examines both the implementation of the program and its long- and short-term impacts on youth earnings, employment, and education. The findings are presented, and the tensions that exist for a summer-only program with long-term goals for youth are discussed.

This working paper from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development explores the effect of employment advancement and anti-poverty strategies when used with those who resided in subsidized rental housing. The findings were mixed, showing some subgroups benefited from the interventions, while others experienced no effect.

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.

This report from the Urban Institute highlights the work of three community-based organizations taking part in the JPMorgan Chase’s New Skills at Work Initiative. It showcases promising approaches and strategies to engage employers to fill their employment needs and train workers to meet these needs.

This report from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation is a required annual report to Congress on indicators and predictors of welfare dependence. The report provides data on benefits provided only by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The indicators reported on are mostly current through 2015, and some select indicators are current through 2016; the report summarizes the changes to the data over time.

This MEF Associates evaluation report prepared for the City of Seattle evaluates their Career Bridge program. Career Bridge was developed as an alternative means of addressing recent gun violence in the city by addressing employment barriers of low-income men of color. The report focuses on the implementation of the program and the employment outcomes for the first three program cohorts that completed the program in 2014.

This working paper from the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research examines the effects of receipt of the federal Pell Grant on future earnings of low-income students and a cost-benefit analysis for the program. Researchers found that Pell Grant receipt greatly increases the chance of graduation and that within 10 years, the taxes from earnings of former Pell Grant recipients will fully recoup the total federal expenditures on the original grants. In addition, the social welfare implications of grant aid are discussed.

This report from the Department of Labor provides an overview of the state of the field related to career pathways programs. The report provides a synthesis of the existing research in the field on this type of program, offers various research design options for evaluating career pathway programs, and offers suggestions for future directions for the field.

The Building Evidence on Employment Strategies for Low-Income Families (BEES) project evaluates the effectiveness of innovative programs designed to boost employment and earnings. MDRC is looking for innovative employment programs that serve low-income families to participate in the project — particularly programs that serve people whose employment prospects have been affected by mental health issues, substance use disorder, or justice involvement.