Resource Library

In February 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) contracted with Avar Consulting, Inc., along with subcontractors Capital Research Corporation, Inc., and George Washington University, to conduct a formative evaluation of the redesigned Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Workshop for members of the military before their separation from active duty. The report is broken into three main sections. Section I provides a synthesis of findings from three observational visits of the revised 3-day TAP Employment Workshop conducted by a team of Avar researchers in May and June 2013.

The report describes a study where researchers examine the impact of job displacement on wealth holdings of older workers. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, they measure the impact of job loss on the total wealth and its subcomponents. They find that a typical worker experiences a persistent reduction in his/her wealth balances at a rate of 8 percent six or more years post job loss. Wealth shocks of this magnitude during the years leading up to retirement may jeopardize wealth adequacy during retirement.

The report describes the characteristics, service receipt, and short-term labor market outcomes of female customers leaving the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult and Dislocated Worker programs in 2009. Researchers also assess gender differences in each of these domains and how service receipt and outcomes varied with local area characteristics. They found that females were more likely than males to face employment barriers before enrolling in WIA programs.

Video describing the high-level findings of the How Are Women Served by the WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs? Findings from Administrative Data Final Report.

Brief describing the high-level findings of the How Are Women Served by the WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs? Findings from Administrative Data Final Report.

In 2012, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and funded contractors Capital Research Corporation and The George Washington University to conduct the Formative Evaluation of Job Clubs Operated by Faith- and Community-Based Organizations: Findings from Site Visits and Options for Future Evaluation study. Job clubs are defined as job search support groups.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided funding for skills training in green jobs and healthcare jobs via four Solicitations for Grant Applications (SGA): Healthcare and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries (HHG); Pathways Out of Poverty (POP); State Energy Sector Partnerships and Training (SESP); and Energy Training Partnerships (ETP). In early 2010, 152 grantees were awarded an average of $4 million to $5 million for two- or three-year grants.

The Department of Education Institute of Education Science (IES) is using random assignment to test the impact of two Pell Grant access experiments on educational attainment, student debt, employment, and earnings. The Department of Labor (DOL) is contributing funds to this experiment. For more information, visit https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/projects/evaluation/pathways_pell.asp

In 2012, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and funded contractor Avar Consulting to conduct the Veterans Employment and Training Service's Transition Assistance Program Employment Workshop Formative Evaluation. The formative evaluation aims to determine if the redesigned Transition Assistance Program (TAP) curriculum provides exiting service members with the skills, tools, and resources needed to transition into civilian employment and to identify potential approaches f