Overview

Millions of Americans do not have the skills, networks, or access to training needed to navigate a labor market that feels stacked against them and, as a result, are struggling to make ends meet. This is despite the fact that wages have grown over the past few years, especially in states that have increased their minimum wage. Workers are also constrained by historical, systemic inequalities and the racism and gender bias that powerfully shape labor force opportunities, experiences, and outcomes. Sectoral training has emerged as a strategy for assisting individuals who are under- or unemployed to gain the necessary skills required for jobs with opportunities for economic mobility. However, there is enormous variety in the content and quality of services sectoral training providers offer.

Sectoral skills training programs offer a promising strategy for equipping individuals with the expertise necessary to secure high-quality employment opportunities that provide room for professional development and career advancement. Offered by workforce development nonprofit organizations, these programs train underemployed and unemployed individuals for employment, offering services ranging from internship placement to skills workshops and certificate training courses. Organizations also tailor their programs to different demographics based on need; while some might serve young adults, others focus on local populations or historically marginalized communities. However, while sectoral training providers aim to train participants for work in high-growth industries, like manufacturing, healthcare, and technology, the rate at which individuals complete training, are hired, remain in gainful employment, and advance in their careers fluctuates greatly across programs. And many of these nonprofit organizations grapple with operational challenges that impede the delivery of their services.

To address these problems, MDRC established the Economic Mobility Lab to provide workforce training organizations with a collaborative and supportive environment to examine the current state of their training services, make program improvements, test new approaches, and scale operations to increase their programmatic capacity. The Economic Mobility Lab employs a technical assistance strategy grounded in human-centered design to promote equitable outcomes and improve the quality of services.