Evaluation of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

About the Study

The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and commissioned contractor ICF Incorporated to conduct the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Impact Evaluation and TAP Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) Formative Evaluation.

The Evaluation of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Impact Study Report describes the quasi-experimental study using administrative data from the U.S. Army and the National Directory of New Hires that examined the impact of TAP on the employment and wages of recently separated Veterans. The study used a matched comparison group design to compare the outcomes of Veterans who participated in TAP to similar Veterans who did not participate. It presents the estimated impacts of participating in TAP up to 36 months post-separation. The study also explored TAP components and how they relate to employment and wage outcomes. Additional information about the analyses is in the Evaluation of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Technical Supplement for the Impact Study.

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) Formative Study Report examines the early implementation of the ENPP, which launched April 1, 2021, and variations in implementation by site. Data collection for this study includes interviews and focus groups with pilot staff and transitioning Service members at the 13 pilot sites, as well as with national Veteran employment partners. Interim findings were shared with VETS leadership to inform pilot enhancement and expansion. The findings can inform future implementation and outcomes studies of the ENPP.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and its federal partners established the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to help prepare separating and retiring Service members to successfully transition to civilian life. TAP prepares Service members for post-separation employment by helping them translate their military skills to the needs of civilian employers. The Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) provides individualized career services outside the traditional TAP workshops to prepare transitioning Service members (TSMs) and spouses for post-service employment.

This Department of Labor-funded study was a result of the DOL Evaluation Plan. It contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform employment and training programs and policies and addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.

Download the Summary

Evaluation of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Impact Study Report

TSMs who completed TAP had better employment outcomes than TSMs who did not complete the program. TAP participants obtained work significantly faster than non-participants, with larger percentages finding a job in the 1st quarter post-separation. They also had significantly higher rates of employment at 12 months post-separation but not at 6 months post-separation.
TAP participants had higher rates of employment retention. For TSMs who were employed at 6 months post-separation, a significantly higher proportion of TAP participants were employed at the same job at 12 months or at any job at 12 months compared to the non-participant group.
TAP participants experienced fewer quarters without employment at 36 months post-separation. No significant differences were found between the groups in quarters without employment at 12 months post-separation. However, non-participants were not employed for more quarters than TAP participants at 36 months post-separation. This finding was significant.

Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) Formative Study Report

Employment Navigator Hiring, Training, and Management. Interview participants stressed the importance of screening Employment Navigators for soft skills. Employment Navigators requested trainings on resumes, federal resumes, opportunities for job shadowing, and peer exchanges.
Communications, Outreach, and Recruitment. National pilot staff and clients requested expanded on-base marketing and ways to increase the program’s reach on social media. Interview participants noted the need to emphasize the value-add of complimentary services offered by Employment Navigators to TAP managers.
Intake, Assessment, and Direct Service Delivery. Clients valued one-on-one customized services. Employment Navigators and clients requested additional services for TSMs and military spouses located outside the continental United States. Clients requested services related to interview preparation.

Project Duration: 36 Months

Contract End Date: August 2023

Contractor: ICF International

For More Information: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.