What Works for Job Training Programs for Disadvantaged Workers
Oct 17, 2019
Reimagining the Workforce Development System for the 21st Century and Beyond
Technology, globalization, and demographic changes have altered what employers need from workers and what workers can expect from employers. Many Americans no longer follow a straightforward, linear path from education to the workforce to retirement—rather, it is becoming more common for individuals to work while going to school, return to school to get more education or change careers after spending some time in the workforce, or work multiple freelance jobs. RAND Education and Labor researchers are working with education and training institutions, employers, and policymakers to take a systems-levels approach to examining education, workforce development, and employment, and to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to better support workers and employers in the 21st-century and beyond.
Featured Research
Equitable Access to Opportunities for Learning, Training, and Re-Training Throughout Individuals’ Working Lives
RAND Education and Labor researchers are examining how best to provide students with a broad base of fundamental skills, as well as exposure to career and technical education that will prepare them for the world of work. In addition, we are considering alternative funding models that can more equitably distribute costs of continuing education and training among individuals, employers, and taxpayers.
Matching and Re-matching Individuals with Jobs to Which They and Their Skills are Well-suited
Recent graduates often find it difficult to make the transition from school to the workforce, as employers often want to hire workers with previous experience. RAND Education and Labor researchers are working in partnership with employers, education and training providers, and other stakeholders to better-align education and training curricula with labor market needs, and to facilitate the school-to-workforce transition. At the same time, many experienced workers find that their current skills are no longer in need, but there are no clearly defined pathways for them to quickly adapt and acquire new skills. Our work has examined new mechanisms to support greater job and career mobility, as well as the needs of freelancers in the growing “gig” economy.
Recent Publications
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Using Workforce Data to Plan Higher Education Degree Programs February 12, 2020
In this chapter, we summarize some findings and lessons from a series of projects for the state of Texas to help improve the alignment of higher education degree programs and workforce needs.
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The American Working Conditions Survey Finds That Nearly Half of Retirees Would Return to Work November 12, 2019
According to the American Working Conditions Survey, more older workers report having meaningful work compared with their prime-age counterparts, and nearly half of retirees would return to work under the right conditions.
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The Effects of Job Characteristics on Retirement September 12, 2019
Presents results based on a recent survey that queried older workers about their current, desired, and expected job characteristics, as well as about how certain job characteristics would affect their retirement decisions.
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Who Helps the Unemployed? Workers' Receipt of Private and Public Transfers August 22, 2019
Explores the effects of cash support on the behavior and outcomes of unemployed workers.
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Beyond Traditional Academic Degrees: The Labor Market Returns to Occupational Credentials March 25, 2019
Estimates the effect of occupational credentials on labor market outcomes.
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Employer and Employee Preferences for Worker Benefits: Evidence from a Matched Survey on the Bangladesh Informal Sector February 18, 2019
Uses choice experiments conducted in small and medium enterprise clusters in Bangladesh to address employer and employee preferences for worker benefits.
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Educator Access to and Use of Data Systems February 14, 2019
Teachers' use of student data to inform instruction is commonly accepted as sound educational practice, but studies reveal inconsistent data use and an overall lack of the preparation and skills needed to interpret and use student data. This American Educator Panels Data Note details teachers' access to and use of data systems.
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The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages December 28, 2018
Documents variation in working conditions among workers in the United States, presents new estimates of how workers value these conditions, and assesses the impact of working conditions on estimates of the wage structure and inequality.