Non-Traditional Occupation Demonstrations Feasibility Study and Evaluation Interim Report
Related Tags
Topic
Research Methods
Study Population
DOL Partner Agency
U.S. Regions
U.S. States
Country
About the Report
In June 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) contracted the implementation of the Feasibility Study and Evaluation of Non‐Traditional Occupation (NTO) Demonstrations. NTOs are occupations where specific populations and subpopulations are traditionally underrepresented. DOL defines underrepresented occupations as those in which individuals from one gender or minority group constitute less than 25% of the individuals employed in such occupations.
The NTO demonstration and its evaluation are identifying, demonstrating, and evaluating a specific evidence‐based strategy designed to increase short‐term outcomes associated with women’s NTO employment. The demonstration’s multi‐pronged outreach approach involves targeted recruitment content implemented in two demonstration sites to encourage participant enrollment in NTO‐related training programs. These program sites, located in Washington and New Mexico, are funded through DOL’s American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) grants. The targeted recruitment’s behavioral approach is designed to encourage (or nudge) women to take steps towards applying to these programs. The evaluation is testing the effectiveness of this intervention on short‐term outcomes using a randomized‐controlled trial (RCT) to assign study sample members to a treatment or a control group.
To implement this study, IMPAQ (the contractor) partnered with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, the National Alliance for Partnerships In Equity, and the communications firm Reingold, Inc.
The report describes the steps taken to identify, design, and implement the demonstration project and associated evaluation. It also documents the actions taken to help two grantees understand the spectrum of workforce/career‐related barriers, causes and misperceptions of NTOs that prevent general awareness and entry into NTOs, and the barriers to NTO advancement and retention.
Research Questions
- Is customized/women‐themed recruitment content more effective in encouraging women to take short‐term steps toward applying to an NTO training program compared to non‐customized/non‐themed, generic recruitment content?
- Do the differences in responses to these messages vary across different subgroups of women (age, race, ethnicity, education, etc.)?
Citation
Nanda, N., Corea, C., Patterson, L., Poe Yamagata, E. (2018). IMPAQ International. Feasibility Study and Evaluation of Non-Traditional Occupation Demonstrations: Interim Report. Chief Evaluation Office, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
This study was sponsored by the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development and Research, Division of Research and Evaluation, and was produced outside of CEO’s standard research development process.