This brief describes 84 study participants’ motivations for enrolling in career pathways programs evaluated in the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) study. In these interviews, participants discussed several topics, including: Their motivations for enrolling in a career pathways program; How they define success in their selected program, and; How they view their chances of experiencing success, whether that be completing the program or some other measure respondents deemed important. These interviews are part of a qualitative sub-study designed improve understanding of participants’ experiences. This brief is one in a series of three focusing on participants’ experiences, including their challenges and supports received. (author introduction)

This brief describes the perceived challenges of 84 study participants in career pathways program evaluated in the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) study. In these interviews, respondents discussed in detail what they viewed as the difficulties they currently experience in the program, as well as challenges they foresaw in the future as they moved along a career pathway. As in prior research, financial challenges, academic worries, and family and other demands on their time were the most commonly articulated concerns, even though these participants were in programs offering a wide range of supports. This brief is one in a series of three focusing on participants’ experiences, including their motivations to participate and supports received. (author introduction)

This study, completed by the Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative in 2015, explores whether individuals who obtain credentials work more and earn more over time than they would without such credentials. The study is the first to estimate the causal impact on earnings from obtaining a credential for low-income job seekers.

This February 2015 publication from The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) explains key provisions and implementation dates for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It provides stakeholders with different opportunities to implement the provisions and programs enumerated in the Act.

This report from the National Skills Coaliation provides recommendations on how states can use their WIOA state plan to establish strategies that close the skill gap and help workers and businesses succeed.

This FAQ web page from the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration provides guidance on performance-related topics such as common measures, reporting, and data validation, as well as insight on reporting around specific populations including youth and veterans.