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The report documents findings from an implementation study, describing how the Ready to Work (RTW) Partnership grantees’ programs were implemented over the full term of the grants, the institutional benefits the grantees anticipated would be sustained after the grants ended, and lessons for current workforce programs. Future reports, to be released in 2021 and 2022, will examine the impact of the four RTW programs on participants’ education and employment outcomes. Findings from this implementation study will be important in interpreting those impact results.

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Key Takeaways

• The grantee programs provided a similar range of services, but they varied substantially in their primary emphasis.
• As the economy improved over the four-year grant period, grantees reported that they generally served workers who faced greater barriers to employment than originally envisioned. Grantees adjusted their programs to better serve this population.
• Aggressive recruitment strategies were needed to meet the programs’ enrollment targets.
• Despite the recruitment challenges, grantees enrolled the population targeted by the grant.
• Participation in occupational training was high, but much of the training attended was short term (less than six months).
• The programs established strong connections with employers, which supported several aspects of the program operations.
• Developing work-based training positions took time and remained a relatively small component of the grantee programs compared to the other activities.
• Staff reported that employment readiness activities were a central element of the RTW programs in large part because the programs served workers with more barriers to employment than anticipated.
• Grantees provided access to specialized assistance with mental or behavioral health issues, specifically designed for those experiencing long-term unemployment.

Research Gaps

• Staff reported that eliciting employer interest in sponsoring positions as well as gaining employer willingness to complete necessary steps to place a participant in a work-based training slot were the primary obstacles. Identifying additional strategies to promote employer interest in these activities is an area for future attention. (page 86)

Citation

Copson, E., Martinson, K., Elkin, S., Sarfo, B., Kappil, T., Morrison, C., Sierks, C. (2021). Abt Associates. Providing Employment Services to the Long-Term Unemployed: Implementation and Sustainability of the Programs in the Ready to Work Partnership Grant Evaluation. Employment and Training Administration and Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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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.