1. What are Good Jobs for ABE Learners and How Can They Get Them? Jonathan Latner Research and Evaluation Analyst 617-727-8158 jlatner@commcorp.org Lisa Soricone Senior Research and Evaluation Analyst 617-727-8158 lsoricone@commcorp.org Page 1

2. Who are ABE Learners in the workforce? – English Language Learners (ELL) 16 years of age and older Does not speak English well or at all Not enrolled in school – Limited Educational Attainment (LEA) 16 years of age and older Not enrolled in school No high school diploma Not ELL Page 2

3. % of Massachusetts Workforce who are ELL or LEP Page 3 Source:Analysis of 1990 Census and 2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are active participants in the labor force (employed or unemployed) 1) Number of ELL learners has declined by 51% 2) Number of LEP learners has risen by 79% 3) ELL & LEP Workers Account for 8% of the MA Workforce in 2007 (down from 12% in 1990)

4. Industrial Distribution of ABE Workforce in MA Page 4 Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed 1)Red Line indicates Massachusetts Average 2)LEA/LEP Workers are spread across a wide variety of industries

5. Industrial Distribution of ABE Workforce by Average Salary of Sector in MA Page 5 Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed 1)Red line indicates Massachusetts Average 2)Industries with a high proportion of ABE workers have average salaries that are below the state average

6. Selected Occupations with High Numbers of ABE Workers in MA Page 6 Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS

7. Occupational/Industry Crosswalk of 7 Occupations with high numbers of ABE Workers in MA Page 7 2006 Employment Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS Mfg.Retail Transportation & Warehousing Admin.Education Health- care Arts & Entertainment Hotels & Food Services Other Maids 27%3%21%1%18%28% Material Movers 16%37%15%3%1%2% Child Care Workers 10%66%4%1%19% Stock Clerks and Order Fillers 9%66%4%3%1% Food Preparation Workers 11%8% 70% Customer Service Representatives 10%22%4%6%1%7%2%4%2% Counter Attendants 2% 3%4%79% Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Note: Rows and Columns do not always add up to 100% because some sectors with small proportion of workers are not included 1)These occupations work in a wide variety of industries

8. Occupational/Industry Crosswalk of 7 Occupations with high numbers of ABE Workers in MA Page 8 2006 Average Salary Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed 1)The industries with the highest concentrations of these occupations are not necessarily those that pay the most for that particular occupation 2)Which industries do these occupations receive a “wage bonus?” Mfg.Retail Transportation & Warehousing Admin.Education Health- care Arts & Entertainment Hotels & Food Services Other Maids $8,071 $13,617 $26,353 $7,691 $16,344 $4,252 Material Movers $30,678 $12,669 $27,513 $21,639 $20,956 $20,349 $17,349 Child Care Workers $12,435 $10,928 $5,009 $3,988 $11,128 Stock Clerks and Order Fillers $40,582 $18,492 $17,494 $19,035 $19,133 $30,378 Food Preparation Workers $18,211 $11,321 $12,854 $2,327 $13,152 Customer Service Representatives $40,529 $20,088 $42,909 $33,051 $24,538 $41,714 $13,587 $12,897 $19,970 Counter Attendants $14,274 $2,560 $15,683 $1,503 $5,799

9. So, how do you find these industries? 1.Use your networks 2.Gain a better understanding of the skills you have and how they may be applied in other areas 3.Don’t underestimate the possibility of success even in “low-wage” sectors like retail. Page 9

10. Things to Remember 1.As hard as the struggle is, evidence suggests that individuals do improve wages over their own personal lifetimes 2.Improved wages is not about staying with one employer or constantly switching from employer to employer, but about finding “good” employers and staying 3.“Good” employers are large, have lots of job openings, pay more for the same occupation, and have a strong culture of promoting from within Page 10