Study Details | Pathways to Work

101010.01-Study of Workforce E

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a compromised randomized controlled trial that does not demonstrate that the intervention and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the intervention.

Intervention: Workforce Education and Readiness Continuum - Travis County

Services provided:

Apprenticeships, Basic skills/bridge programs, Case management, Job placement, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Occupational or sectoral training, Paid work experience/internships, Performance- or behavior-based financial incentives, Transportation assistance

Setting: Urban only

Study design

Design:

Quasi-experimental design

Study group formation:

The study uses a quasi-experimental design, in which eligible participants with a valid SSN who exited from the WERC-TC workforce program between 2016 to 2023 were matched to a comparison group of Travis County residents who received standard workforce services.

Time period of study:

2016-2024

Pathways only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample characteristics

All study participants were residents of Travis County, TX, age 16 or older, with income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The average age of participants was 38, with about 50% identifying as Black, 23% as Hispanic and 21% as White. A majority were male (57) and 62% reported having a 12th grade education or equivalent. About 36% had prior involvement with the judicial system.

Age

Mean age

38 years

Sex

Female	43%
Male	57%

Participant race and ethnicity

Black or African American	50%
White, not Hispanic	21%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	23%
Asian	2%
Another race	1%
More than one race	1%
Unknown, not reported, or other	2%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

Participant education

Had a high school diploma or GED	80%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	21%

Specific employment barriers

Were involved with the justice system	36%
Were military veterans	6%

Intervention implementation

Implementing organization:

Administered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board; delivered by four organizations including Workforce Solutions Capital Area Career Centers, Goodwill Industries, Austin Area Urban League, and American Youthworks

Intervention services:

The Workforce Education and Readiness Continuum - Travis County (WERC-TC) is a group of adult education, training, and employment services to help individuals improve occupational skills and obtain employment. Services include High School Equivalency, adult basic education, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes; case management; job readiness and occupation-specific training; and job search and job placement assistance. Eligible participants must have an income below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG); be a resident of Travis County; be at least 16 years old; and either be a United States citizen or have an authorization to work.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

Comparison group members received limited employment services from a Workforce Solutions Career Center in Travis County, but did not receive the additional services provided by WERC-TC

Study publications

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The Pathways Clearinghouse refers to interventions by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some intervention names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.

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Study of Workforce Education and Readiness Continuum - Travis County (WERC-TC)