This report describes the implementation of the U.S. Department of Labor's H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants program. To address skill shortages in the U.S. labor market, the Employment and Training Administration awarded 76 grants, in 2011 and 2012, to partnerships of workforce agencies, training providers, employers, and other organizations. The grant programs were designed to train unemployed individuals and incumbent workers for middle-skill positions in such sectors as information technology; communication and broadband technology; advanced manufacturing; and healthcare, including health IT. The grant program is funded by fees paid by businesses seeking to hire foreign individuals requiring an H-1B visa. This report documents grantees' experiences operating their training programs and spotlights two employer-based training strategies: incumbent worker training, where employers refer employees to training to upgrade workers' skills, and on-the-job training, where the individuals' wages are subsidized as an incentive for employers to hire and train workers.

Findings were based on information collected between fall 2013 and spring 2014 (midway through the grant programs) via phone interviews with all grantees and site visits with five grantees. The study examined key operational themes and strategies from all the grantee programs, including industry focus, target populations, partner roles and responsibilities, types of services provided, target credentials, and recruitment strategies. It also focused on the targeted populations and industries, employer partnerships, and training and service delivery strategies as they relate to incumbent worker and on-the-job training programs.

Organization:
Abt Associates, in partnership with MEF Associates

Authors:
Karin Martinson, Glen Schneider, Mike Fishman Katherine Gan, April Yeaney, Carly Morrison, Tresa Kappil

Keywords: Career pathways, H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants, employer-based training, middle-skill jobs, on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, workforce development