For some job seekers, finding a quality job that pays well, offers benefits, and presents advancement opportunities can seem daunting. The job search process requires applicants to not only hone an in-demand skill set but to also demonstrate flexibility during the search, preparation, applica­tion, and interview stages. The job search process may be unpredictable, and even qualified applicants may face structural barriers outside of their con­trol, such as discrimination in hiring practices or occupational segregation. Job seekers may have an even harder time during a recession or period of economic uncertainty when there are fewer jobs available, or employers are more selective.

Sector programs—training programs that align with the needs of local employers and prepare workers for in-demand jobs with higher earning potential—are one of the most promising, evidence-based forms of work­force development. To help participants find the right jobs, these programs offer guidance on how to search for jobs and provide connections to vetted employers that are looking to hire. Research shows that sector programs can help connect job seekers to quality jobs and increase their earnings, both at their initial job placement and several years later. One of the sector programs with the most promising evidence to date is operated by Per Scholas, a national nonprofit organization that provides tech-focused training and employment services. Per Scholas’ program has led to some of the largest and most enduring earnings effects ever measured in a rigorous study.

The current evidence on sector programs—including the evidence on Per Scholas’ program—how­ever, focuses on the effectiveness of the programs at raising participants’ earnings on average. Even in the most successful programs, not all participants benefit. Some participants do not find jobs in their target sector. Others may land positions that lack key quality-of-life attributes, such as good pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. Further, the available evidence focuses on the effectiveness of the overall sector program model, and not the individual components of the model, such as job search assistance. Additional research is needed to better understand how to effectively help participants find jobs that match the new skills they have after graduating from the program, particularly given that the ability of sector programs to place participants in better jobs is a key mechanism behind their impact.

To begin to fill this evidence gap, MDRC partnered with Per Scholas to explore the job search experi­ences and needs of a set of Per Scholas graduates. The graduates in the analysis are not necessarily representative of all Per Scholas graduates or graduates of sector programs more generally. Rather, the findings in this brief illustrate a set of job search experiences and highlight difficulties that job seekers may encounter. Graduates in the analysis completed Per Scholas’ Information Technology (IT) Support course, a tech training course that lasted from 13 to 16 weeks and began looking for jobs at a time when the technology labor market was weak (roughly October 2023 to March 2024). The findings from this analysis reinforce and present new insights into the successes, challenges, and needs of a group of sector program participants during a difficult and uncertain time.

Sector program staff members and researchers can use the insights in this brief when considering how to strengthen the job search services offered by sector programs, both during and after training. They can also use these insights to see how labor market changes and shocks in specific sectors may affect the outcomes of participants in sector programs, and how services may need to be tailored to meet participants’ unique needs.