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The 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 the Transition Assistance Program (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.

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Research Questions

• What is the impact of the Transition Goals, Plans, Success (GPS) program on employment-related outcomes for Army Transitioning Service Members (TSMs) who participated in Transition GPS compared to Army TSMs who did not participate in Transition GPS?
• Among participants and non–participants of Transition GPS, are there specific subgroups, such as women, racial/ethnic minorities, or persons with disabilities, for whom employment-related outcomes differed following separation?

Key Takeaways

• 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.
• Participation in TAP was not associated with higher wages post-separation. On average, employed TAP participants earned significantly less than employed non-participants across time. However, the differences between the treatment and comparison groups decreased over time.
• TAP participants had a smaller wage change between the 1st and 5th quarter. On average, TAP participants’ adjusted wages were significantly lower than non-participants’ adjusted wages at the 5th quarter post separation (after adjusting for their wage in the 1st quarter post-separation). Non-participants’ wages grew more between the 1st and 5th quarter post-separation, compared to TAP participants’ wages.
• Black TSMs who participated in TAP had favorable employment outcomes. Black men and women who participated in TAP found jobs faster than non-participants. Black men had the highest employment rate at 12-months post-separation relative to the non-participants and to other racial/ethnic subgroups of TAP participants. Black TSMs who participated in TAP also had fewer quarters with no employment than non-participants.
• When a TSM completed TAP was related to favorable outcomes. TSMs who completed TAP more than 6 months before separating had higher employment and wage outcomes than TSMs who completed the program within 6 months of separation.

Citation

O’Conner, R., Schoeneberger, J., Clark, D. (2023). ICF Incorporated. Evaluation of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Impact Study Report. 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.