Previous training and the employment of welfare recipients: An analysis of California's Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) program.

Abstract

The Dissertation assesses the role of previous job training exposure, basic education, and job search assistance on employment and earnings outcomes of welfare recipients. The data for 10,606 black and white women were gathered as part of a randomized evaluation of participants from the Greater Avenues to Independence (GAIN) job training program and a control group who received welfare, but not GAIN services. The sample consists of welfare recipients who were heads of household in four California counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego. This study addresses three questions. First, do women who entered GAIN with previous education and job training exposure receive any benefit from GAIN job search assistance activities? Second, what effect do GAIN basic education and job search assistance have on the employment and earnings rates of women for whom GAIN is their first education and job training experience. And finally, what effect does occupational skills training in activities, such as computers and office machines, day care, and non-traditional occupational skills have on employment and wage rates? This study found significant differences between those women who entered GAIN with previous occupational skills training (Occupational Skills Trainees), and those who entered without such training advantages (New Trainees and Group Job Search Trainees). For the most part, Occupational Skills Trainees had significantly higher employment and earnings outcomes, followed by New Trainees. In addition, those women who had received previous education and job training were the most likely to be employed and to experience significantly higher earnings. Group Job Search Trainees experienced the poorest labor market outcomes. The results also indicate that training matters, but type of training matters more. For example, those women who had received nurse's aide and clerical type training had significantly higher earnings than all other welfare women in the study. The overall results of this analysis indicate that age, education, basic skill levels, children, county of residence, and previous earning levels were key predictors of participation in job training pre-GAIN and employment and earnings outcomes post-GAIN. Recommendations for future education and job training efforts were addressed.