Study Details | Pathways to Work

101010.04-Study of Skillpoint

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that does not demonstrate that the intervention and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the intervention.

Intervention: Skillpoint Alliance Gateway Program

Population and employment barriers:

Educational attainment (At least a high school diploma or equivalent)

Services provided:

Basic skills/bridge programs, Case management, Job readiness, Job search assistance, Occupational or sectoral training, Soft skills training, Transportation assistance, Tuition assistance/financial aid, Work supports

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 Skillpoint Alliance Gateway 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

Age

Mean age

30 years

Sex

Female	37%
Male	63%

Participant race and ethnicity

Black or African American	28%
White, not Hispanic	25%
Hispanic or Latino of any race	38%
Asian	2%
Another race	2%
More than one race	2%
Unknown, not reported, or other	4%

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	93%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	4%

Specific employment barriers

Were involved with the justice system	12%
Were military veterans	5%

Intervention implementation

Implementing organization:

Skillpoint Alliance

Intervention services:

The Skillpoint Alliance Gateway program provides accelerated, short-term training in high-demand occupations through a combination of classroom training and hands-on skill development. Services are targeted to participants age 18 years or older who meet reading and math skills requirements and have a High School diploma or equivalent, with challenges to employment, such as prior judicial involvement, receipt of TANF or SNAP, or homelessness.

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 Skillpoint Alliance

Study publications

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Study of Skillpoint Alliance Gateway Program