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The report describes the characteristics of TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative (SWFI) grant programs participants, participation in services, training enrollment, training completion, credential receipt, and employment. It also examines how outcomes vary by participant characteristics. The data come from the Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL). Because outcomes such as training completion and employment can take some time to realize, this report focuses on participants who enrolled in the programs at least 18 months prior to the end of the grant period in June 2020. This includes 11,584 TechHire and 3,101 SWFI participants who enrolled between July 2016 and December 2018. Outcomes are assessed through June 2020. This report does not address the question of whether the outcomes would have occurred in the absence of the program. This question will be addressed in a separate report on the impact study.

Research Questions

• What are the characteristics of participants?
• At what rates do participants engage in and complete training and receive credentials?
• What are participants’ employment outcomes?
• How do outcomes differ by participant characteristics?
• What percentage of participants receive supportive services?
• How do outcomes differ by program strategies?

Key Takeaways

• TechHire participants tended to be male, younger than age 30, and White. SWFI participants were typically female, ages 30 and older, Black or Hispanic, and low income.
• As shown in Exhibit 1, of TechHire participants who entered the program (received a grant-funded service), 89 percent began training, 68 percent completed training, and 50 percent received a credential. Of SWFI participants who entered the program, 75 percent began training, 57 percent completed training, and 44 percent received a credential.
• As shown in Exhibit 2, of TechHire participants who were underemployed or not employed at entry and completed training, 56 percent entered employment and 42 percent entered training-related employment. Of SWFI participants, 59 percent entered employment and 44 percent entered training-related employment.
• In both programs, supportive service receipt was higher among females than males and among participants with low incomes than those without low incomes.
• In both programs, several participant characteristics were correlated with starting training, completing training, and receiving credentials.
• Several program strategies were correlated with training and employment outcomes.

Citation

Gasper, J., Baier, K. (2021). Westat. Early Outcomes Study Report: Evaluation of the TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative Grant Programs. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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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 and CEO’s research development process.