Abt Team to Build Evidence on Sector Strategies and Employer Engagement Programs
Rockville, Md. – The Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded an Abt Global-led team a contract to build evidence about effective industry sector strategies to improve economic outcomes and advance equity and well-being for workers while meeting employers’ needs. Sector training programs, designed to train job seekers for high-quality employment in in-demand jobs, are a promising evidence-based approach to improve economic outcomes -- but one that has not historically operated on a large scale.
In awarding the contract, the DOL’s Chief Evaluation Office seeks to identify effective, scalable workforce strategies and create access to high quality and equitable career paths for workers. The project will build on a large body of previous research, much of it conducted by Abt and its partners. The study includes evaluations of two DOL grant programs designed to meet critical workforce needs: the Nursing Expansion and the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs grant programs. The team will assess the implementation and evaluability of these programs and develop evidence-based studies to inform future workforce development programs and policies.
“Critically, this project will be an important opportunity to build evidence on how sector strategies that center workers can promote career advancement and high quality jobs for all workers, including those historically marginalized or excluded from promising opportunities in the workforce,” said Project Director Deena Schwartz, a senior associate and equity specialist.
Abt’s partners on the five-year, $6 million contract are MDRC, Social Policy Research Associates, and Trewon Technologies.
About Abt Global
Abt Global is a global consulting and research firm that combines data and bold thinking to improve the quality of people's lives. We partner with clients and communities to advance equity and innovation—from creating scalable digital solutions and combatting infectious disease, to mitigating climate change and evaluating programs for measurable social impact. https://www.abtglobal.com
Contact:
Stan Crock
stan_crock@abtassoc.com
(301) 347-5402
