About the Study

In 2022, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance (OTAA) to fund contractor Mathematica, and its partner Social Policy Research Associates, to conduct the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Navigators Formative Study under the Navigator Evidence-Building Portfolio of studies. The formative study examines the implementation of Navigator programs across states and how those programs have provided hands-on assistance to workers to increase enrollment in the TAA program and improve training and employment outcomes.

The TAA program, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA), was created to support American workers adversely affected by international trade. The program provides benefits to help workers who have lost their jobs due to increased imports or shifts in global trade patterns. As this is a federal program managed and administered by state workforce agencies, there is significant variation in the administration of the TAA program across states. One of these variations is the use of TAA Navigators.

 This DOL-funded study was a result of the annual process to determine the department’s research priorities for the upcoming year. It contributes to the labor evidence-base to inform employment and training programs and policies and addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.

Project Duration: 60 Months

Contract End Date: August 2027

Contractor: Mathematica

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 and CEO’s research development process.