How to Use a Sectored Employment Strategy to Increase Student Success Presented by Ruben Garcia & Hiwot Berhane TAIR 2005 – Arlington, TX

Objectives of the Presentation  Describe sectored employment strategy.  Provide an example of a workforce training program that uses a sectored employment strategy to great effect.  Show post-exit results of students exiting the program.  Questions and answers.

What is a sectored employment strategy?  Work with local boards in identifying demand industries and occupations.  Identify local employers within targeted industries.  Establish direct contact with local employers in a targeted industry to determine staffing needs.  Recruit participants for training.  Work with training providers to train workers.  Supply the staffing needs of the employers.

How are demand industries and occupations identified?  SOCRATES (  TWCs regional labor market targeting tool  Uses historical employment data and staffing patterns to identify demand industries and occupations  Annual planning cycle by Local Workforce Development Boards

Project Quest  Quality Employment Through Skills Training  Award winning workforce training program in San Antonio.  Recruit economically disadvantaged individuals usually receiving public assistance (TANF, Food Stamps).  Provide financial assistance for training and support services designed to breakdown barriers to gainful employment and self-sufficiency.

Project Quest  Established in 1992  Award for Excellence in Workforce Development – JP Morgan Chase  Replicated in 4 cities (Project Vida)  Funded by the City of San Antonio and private non-profit foundations.  Work with community and technical colleges and other training providers

Project Quest  Served 2,412 participants to date (seed records)  1,268 (52.6%) have graduated  1,087 (45.1%) did not graduate  37 (1.5%) provided readjustment assistance (not included in the analysis)  $8,316 = average costs per participant

Costs by Program of Study Programs of Study 2-digit CIP Average Costs per Participant Health Profession and Related Sciences $10,148 Business Management & Related Business Svcs. $7,675 Computer and Information Services $8,714 Engineering Related Technologies $8,883

Post-Exit Results  1,816 (80.4%) were located through electronic record linkages (little data decay over time). – TWC Unemployment Insurance wage records – THECB Master enrollment files – TDHS Public Assistance records – TX Bureau of Vital Statistics (deceased)

Summary of Post-Exit Results  1,568 (69.4%) working only  197 (8.7%) working and going to school  51 (2.3%) going to school only  443 (19.6%) Not located  20 deceased (excluded from analysis)

Graduates vs. Non-Graduates at Q+2  78% employed  $5,756 mean quarterly earnings  60% employed  $2,872 mean quarterly earnings

Graduates: Public Assistance  Before Project Quest – 180 on TANF – 442 on Food Stamp  After Project Quest – 24 on TANF – 148 on Food Stamp

Non-Graduates: Public Assistance  Before Project Quest – 203 on TANF – 456 on Food Stamp  After Project Quest – 52 on TANF – 307 on Food Stamp

Graduates: Earnings Gains and Employment Persistence  Earning gains (Q-1 to Q+2) for graduates who were employed prior to Project Quest ranged from $1,499 to $5,472 per quarter.  Over 90% of graduates working in Q+2 were still working in Q+4  Over 90% of graduates working in Q+2 were still working in Q+6 (labor force attachment)

Non-Graduates: Earnings Gains and Employment Persistence  Earning gains (Q-1 to Q+2) for non-graduates who were employed prior to Project Quest ranged from $1,628 to $3,331 per quarter.  Over 80% of non-graduates working in Q+2 were still working in Q+4  Over 80% of non-graduates working in Q+2 were still working in Q+6 (labor force attachment)

Industries of Employment for Graduates  General Medical and Surgical Hospitals  Nursing Care Facilities  Professional Employer Organizations  Other Guided Missile/Space Vehicle Parts  Home Health Care Services  Offices of Mental Health Physicians  Other Nonresidential Equipment Contractors  All Other Outpatient Care Centers  Offices of Dentists

Industries of Employment for Non- Graduates  Professional Employer Organizations  General Medical and Surgical Hospitals  All Other Business Support Services  Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars  Discount Department Stores  Other Depository Credit Intermediation  Nursing Care Facilities  Convenience Stores  Home Health Care Services  Full-Service Restaurants

Observations  Positive, quantifiable results  High employment  High quarterly earnings  Significant earnings gains  High employment persistence  Participants achieve labor force attachment  Decreased dependency on public assistance

Contact  Ruben Garcia – (512) 491 – 4965 –  Hiwot Berhane – (512) –  CDR Website: