A Systematic Review of Sectoral Workforce Programs
Knowing who and who are not served is essential to ensure that sectoral programs are effective for the people who need them the most and to understand how programs can be adapted to better serve these populations.
Recent rigorous evaluations have revealed that a handful of sectoral programs have been successful at increasing the employment and earnings of participants multiple years after participation. Yet, there is a lack of evidence on which groups of individuals benefit from these programs.
Each program’s offerings, contexts, and effects vary. Additionally, the populations they serve—and don’t serve—may vary, raising questions about which communities may be benefiting from these services.
The Systematic Sectoral Training Program Review
The PROPEL Center conducted a systematic review of rigorous research on sectoral workforce training programs to identify how these programs operate. Specifically, we focused on understanding where sectoral training programs are offered, who participates, and how they are served, and who remains excluded.
Our goal was to describe the populations served by these programs and identify which participant characteristics are reported and not reported in evaluations. We also aimed to understand the broader context of these programs by examining characteristics of the areas in which they operate. Another key goal of our work was identifying variation in program offerings by the population served.
In this study, the PROPEL Center:
- Conducted a systematic review of studies of relevant workforce programs;
- Extracted critical information on program components and information on whom and where programs are offered;
- Investigated what is reported in evaluations, specifically which participant groups are reported on and for which characteristics evaluations report outcomes;
- Examined the work of sectoral workforce programs, specifically which types of programs, settings, and combinations of program features were offered, who program beneficiaries were, and where programs were operating; and
- Identified and provided information on the gaps among program offerings, their program beneficiaries, and where they were provided.
This data can provide the workforce development field with a better sense of where sectoral programs are needed.
Key Takeaways
Who is being served by sectoral training programs?
- Sectoral training programs successfully target groups that face challenges in the labor market.
- Minority groups are more highly represented in training programs than they are in their local counties and national averages.
Where are sectoral training programs offered?
- Sectoral training programs generally take place in defined locations, which limits access and restricts who can take part.
- Programs were more frequently offered in larger metropolitan areas and in rural/very small urban areas.
Are there variations in program offerings?
- Variation in program offerings is most pronounced by sex of participants but confounded with industry. Programs with majority female participants provide more wraparound services than those comprised mostly of male participants.
The PROPEL Center is directly supported by the AIR Opportunity Fund.