Overview

Human capital development—or people’s ability to acquire skills and knowledge through education and training—advances workers’ economic opportunity and strengthens employers and the economy. Yet the complex landscape of skills and training is fragmented across institutions of higher education, public and private providers, and other credentialing programs. More importantly, human capital development alone does not lead to greater economic mobility, as many workers continue to face barriers to reaching their full potential in the labor market.

Working Knowledge

Job search and matching April 08, 2022
Article

How “Netflix for Jobs” Is Unlocking Economic Mobility: A Q&A with Scott Jensen

Chief executive officer and vice president of external affairs for Research Improving People's Lives shares insights on how data, science, and technology can identify promising employment and training opportunities for jobseekers looking to earn more or gain new skills.

Andrew Boardman

April 08, 2022
Employer practices January 25, 2022
Article

New and Noteworthy: Research on predictable scheduling laws, postsecondary decisionmaking among youth, and more

New and Noteworthy highlights new research and data to inform policies, practices, and programs designed to strengthen workers’ economic security and pathways for mobility in the US labor market.

Archana Pyati

January 25, 2022
Skills and training September 02, 2021
Article

Building Evidence on Occupational Identity Could Lead to New Approaches for Improving Labor Market Outcomes for Young People

Understanding how young adults form and mediate occupational identity could inform strategies to improve labor market outcomes.

Maalik Nickerson

September 02, 2021
Demographic disparities May 24, 2021
Article

Closing Digital Skill Gaps Created by Structural Inequities Could Enhance Young Workers’ Economic Resilience

Today’s labor market increasingly requires digital skills to search, apply for, and succeed in higher-wage jobs that are also associated with high…

Amanda Briggs, Ian Hecker

May 24, 2021

Research

Skills and training April 03, 2023

Navigating Public Job Training

Right now, more than 75,000 Eligible Training Provider (ETP) job programs are eligible for funding under America’s primary federal workforce development law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). How well do these public investments prepare workers for high-quality jobs? In this analysis, authors combine training provider and program data from the US Department of Labor with performance records and occupational data to study the types of providers receiving WIOA funding and the kinds of jobs for which they offer training. The report also reviews websites for all 50 states to understand how easily potential job trainees can access information on these programs.

David Deming, Alexis Gable, Rachel Lipson, Arkādijs Zvaigzne

April 03, 2023
Supportive services March 15, 2022

Expanding Child Care Subsidies to Parents in Education and Training

A fact sheet summarizes findings from a new WorkRise report that models a hypothetical policy scenario where more parents in education and training were eligible for and received public child care subsidies.

Gina Adams, Linda Giannarelli, Nathan Sick, Kelly Dwyer

March 15, 2022
Supportive services March 15, 2022

Implications of Providing Child Care Assistance to Parents In Education and Training

New WorkRise research uses microsimulation to model a hypothetical policy scenario where more parents in education and training were eligible for and received public child care subsidies.

Gina Adams, Linda Giannarelli, Nathan Sick, Kelly Dwyer

March 15, 2022