Developing a Pipeline of Diverse Talent into the Public Sector
Nov 16, 2021
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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Living Wages in Los Angeles County's Homeless Response Sector May 10, 2023
This report documents the challenges associated with not paying workers in the homeless response sector a living wage. It highlights the potential impacts of higher pay for these workers, such as improved productivity, morale, and retention, which could, in turn, improve the quality and continuity of client care.
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The Value of Working Conditions in the United States and Implications for the Structure of Wages April 27, 2023
We document variation in working conditions in the United States, present estimates of how workers value these conditions, and assess the impact of working conditions on estimates of wage inequality.
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Exploring Intergenerational Wealth Transfer Dynamics with Agent-Based Models April 21, 2023
Introduces a modeling environment that could be used for testing the long run impacts of policy interventions on differences between white and Black wealth.
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Teachers' Preparation Experiences from Coursework to the Classroom: Findings from the 2022 Learn Together Survey April 13, 2023
Using nationally representative response data from the 2022 Learn Together Survey, the authors examine teachers' experiences entering, completing, and transitioning from teacher preparation programs. They examine teachers' access to supports and their helpfulness, including reported differences among teachers by race or ethnicity and years of experience, and discuss key findings and recommendations to promote a robust teaching workforce.
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Veterans' Employment During Recessions: Veterans' Issues in Focus March 29, 2023
Newly separated service members face unique challenges as they enter the civilian labor market, so how can they manage their expectations during this critical period? A better understanding of veterans’ employment support needs and how economic shocks affect veterans and nonveterans differently can help veterans, employers, policymakers, and veteran-serving organizations prepare for future disruptions and uncertainty.
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Workers with a Criminal History February 14, 2023
In this article, we use data from the NLSY97 COVID-19 Supplement to examine the extent to which workers with a criminal history record had employment disruptions during the early months of the pandemic.