YOUTHBUILD USA SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 Sectoral Employment Programs 1

 What is a Sectoral Employment Program?  Key Features  Evidence of Impact  Selecting a Sector for Your Program Focus  Example of a Youth-Focused Program  Resources 2

What is a Sectoral Employment Program? Industry-specific workforce development program that prepares unemployed and under-employed individuals for skilled positions and connects them with employers seeking to fill such vacancies. (1) (1) Adapted from Tuning In to Local Labor Markets, Public/Private Ventures,

Key Features  Partnership with industry employer(s); significant business engagement in program design (and often delivery) and placement/advancement  Recruitment and screening processes, technical, work readiness and academic skills development all contextualized to target industry and occupation(s)  Continuum of services, which might include preparation for and placement in initial position with support to prepare for and move to higher skill position(s)  Career coaching, case management and other resources designed to support program success and employment retention and advancement 4

Evidence of Impact Tuning In to Local Labor Markets; PP/V, 2010  Experimental research design  3 programs, 1,286 individuals, 24-months  50% assigned to control group; 50% to treatment group  Results – Participants in sector programs:  Earned significantly more than control group members  Were significantly more likely to work and, in the second year, worked more consistently than control group members  Were significantly more likely to work in jobs with higher wages  Were significantly more likely to work in jobs that offered benefits  For each subgroup, had significant earnings gains as compared to their counterpart control group members 5

Selecting a Sector for Your Program Focus  Research potential sectors thoroughly. Look for:  Sectors that are adding workers or are large and have significant replacement needs due to turnover or retirement  Sectors that have advancement opportunities (increased pay for increased skills)  Sectors that have particular skill and workforce needs that are a potential match with your participant pool  Identify target occupations. Look for:  Sufficient demand for workers to make it worthwhile  Skill and work experience requirements that are attainable by your participant pool within a reasonable period  No requirements that will present an insurmountable barrier for your participant pool 6

Selecting a Sector Cont’d  Identify local employers in the sector. Target employers that:  Can articulate a workforce development strategy  Are willing to share information about hiring requirements and how they recruit, train and advance workers  Are aware they have workforce needs that they cannot meet with their current sourcing strategies  Have business needs that match your organization’s business needs  Are willing to partner with you to develop program design, play a role in program delivery, and hire or find jobs for program graduates 7

Selecting a Sector Cont’d  Inventory your own capacity. Determine whether your organization or a partner organization have:  Expertise in preparing individuals for the target occupations.  Cultural competence and expertise in providing work readiness services to the target population.  Capacity to provide credentials or other certifications required for employment in the target occupations  Capacity to provide career coaching and case management services contextualized to the target sector and occupations  Capacity to design and conduct recruitment and screening for interest, abilities and other requirements of the target occupations  Expertise in job development and job placement 8

Example of a Youth-Focused Sectoral Employment Program Boston Private Industry Council – Health Care and Financial Services  Interview, resume, work readiness preparation  Initial employment in a summer job with a participating employer partner. Students are selected through a competitive interview process.  Advancement to a year-round job with a participating employer partner.  Senior year coaching, assistance in planning and preparing for post-secondary education  Career exploration and postsecondary retention support.  Continued employment throughout post secondary experience 9

Resources Publications, program examples (The Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative) Tools, publications, FAQs, examples of state sector strategies (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, National Network of Sector Partners) 10

More Resources Publications, research, case studies (Public/Private Ventures) Health pathways resources (Massachusetts Area Health Education Center) Skilled trades youth pathway program example (Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership) 11

For more information: Contact: Rebekah Lashman, Sr. Vice President Applied Research and Regional and Sector Strategies Commonwealth Corporation 529 Main Street, Suite 1M8 Boston, MA