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Workforce Development

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Research Brief

The U.S. Workforce Development and Employment System Needs an Overhaul

Sep 19, 2019

Despite globalization, technology, and demographic changes, the U.S. approach to education, training, and workforce development still operates on a 20th-century model. Americans need a system that provides on-ramps for transitioning individuals to access opportunities while suitably matching workers and jobs.
Essay

Appalachia Partnership Helps Both Workers and Employers in a Changing Market

Aug 30, 2018

An innovative program in Appalachia is realigning the skills of the workforce with the needs of employers, getting people back on the job and providing a 21st-century model of workforce development.

Explore Workforce Development

Report

Report

Effectiveness of Screened, Demand-Driven Job Training Programs for Disadvantaged Workers: An Evaluation of the New Orleans Career Pathway Training

The authors of this report examine the implementation and effectiveness of a New Orleans job training program that helped lower-skilled, unemployed, and underemployed individuals train for and find skilled jobs in particular industries.

Oct 17, 2019
Research Brief

What Works for Job Training Programs for Disadvantaged Workers

Can workforce development programs resolve the mismatch between the talent available and the skills in demand? An evaluation of the New Orleans Career Pathways program offers insights that should be helpful to anyone striving to create or improve such programs.

Oct 17, 2019
Report

Report

Reimagining the Workforce Development and Employment System for the 21st Century and Beyond

U.S. education, training, and workforce development have not significantly changed despite 21st-century needs. To address this, RAND Corporation researchers developed a systems-level, blue-sky approach to rethinking system functions and features.

Sep 19, 2019
Report

Report

The Appalachia Partnership Initiative's Investments in K–12 Education and Catalyzing the Community: Reflections from 2014 Through 2017

RAND researchers assessed the Appalachia Partnership Initiative's (API's) investments in K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and initiatives related to catalyzing the community from October 2014 to December 2017.

Aug 29, 2019
Commentary

How Work-Based Learning Can Bring Employers and Students Together

Work-based learning experiences help college grads better prepare for work. WBL programs often serve as a workforce pipeline for companies. WBL is also successful at the K-12 level and at "upskilling" adult workers. There are several ways Congress could foster and strengthen WBL.

Jul 24, 2019
Commentary

How Community Colleges Can Establish Better Partnerships with Employers

Career and technical education programs give students a chance to engage in learning relevant to their chosen fields and apply immediately for jobs. A strategic vision of collaboration between industry and community colleges can benefit all parties.

Jun 6, 2019
Report

Report

An Assessment of Gaps in Business Acumen and Knowledge of Industry Within the Defense Acquisition Workforce: A Report Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense in Compliance with Section 843(c) of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act

RAND researchers assessed gaps in business acumen and knowledge of industry present within the defense acquisition workforce. They identified apparent knowledge gaps, possible reasons for their existence, and potential approaches to closing them.

May 28, 2019
Report

Teachers' Access to and Use of Student Data Varies

Using student data to inform instruction is considered sound educational practice. Many teachers have access to grades, attendance records, and standardized test scores. But they don't all have the skills needed to interpret and use the data. Providing educators with more support could increase their use of student data.

Feb 14, 2019
Research Brief

Educators and Employers Could Align Efforts to Fill STEM Jobs

Middle-skills STEM workers are in high demand in the oil and natural gas industry, but they need the proper training and credentials. Better collaboration between employers and colleges could bridge the gap between the skills and knowledge employers seek and what instructors emphasize.

Feb 7, 2019
Report

Report

Supporting Middle-Skills STEM Workforce Development: Analysis of Workplace Skills in Demand and Education Institutions' Curricular Offerings in the Oil and Gas Sector

In this report, researchers examine the alignment of college STEM education with the needs of employers in the tri-state region of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, as well as STEM areas in which college students need more support.

Feb 7, 2019
Report

Report

Enabling NHS staff to contribute to research: Reflecting on current practice and informing future opportunities

This report considers how NHS staff can effectively contribute to health research.

Dec 11, 2018
Commentary

The Case for Investing in a More Healthy and Engaged Health Workforce

Improving staff engagement leads to a variety of positive benefits. But defining and measuring engagement is not straightforward, and different demographic factors are associated with different levels of engagement. The National Health Service in England is looking at ways to increase engagement in its staff.

Nov 8, 2018
Report

Report

Employee Engagement in the NHS: A secondary data analysis of the NHS Healthy Workforce and Britain's Healthiest Workplace surveys

Our study examined the potential link between organisational, personal and health-related factors and employee engagement, and how engagement is linked with the outcomes at the individual or organisational level.

Oct 11, 2018
Periodical

Periodical

RAND Review: September-October 2018

This issue spotlights RAND's research on social and emotional learning; workforce development in Appalachia; and the effects of marijuana ads on adolescents and young adults.

Sep 4, 2018
Report

Report

The Appalachia Partnership Initiative's Investments in Education, Workforce Development, and the Community: Technical Appendixes

These technical appendixes provide more details on the methodology, data, and findings in the report, The Appalachia Partnership Initiative's Investments in Education, Workforce Development, and the Community: Analysis of the First Stage, 2014-2016.

Nov 10, 2017
Brochure

RAND Gulf States Policy Institute: Committed to Strengthening the Well-Being of the U.S. Gulf States Through Research and Analysis

This 16-page flyer describes the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute and summarizes some of the research it has tackled since its founding in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.

Nov 1, 2017
Commentary

Keeping Americans on the Job in a Changing Economy

Despite calls to bring back U.S. coal mines and factories, the real issue isn't a lack of family-sustaining jobs, it's a mismatch between workers and available jobs.

Oct 20, 2017
Report

Employers and Colleges Could Plan Better for Future Oil and Natural Gas Workforce

Advances in natural gas extraction should bring long-term economic benefits to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. A survey of employers and educators can inform policy decisions on how best to expand and sustain the pool of skilled workers.

Oct 17, 2017

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RAND Education and Labor