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Today's fast-paced, highly competitive global economy makes increasing demands on America's workforce. Poorly educated workers with weak labor market skills have seen their job prospects diminish appreciably in recent years, and their earnings have badly eroded. Young people entering the labor market for the first time, particularly those without highly developed skills, can spend years floundering in the labor market without clear direction. Given that job security can no longer be taken for granted, even very experienced workers must be prepared to periodically shift careers and undergo retraining.
SPR has spent years studying federal, state, and local initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency of the labor market and ensuring that workers who are struggling in their careers gain the skills they need to be productive. Our evaluations have included qualitative implementation and process studies and quantitative net impact and cost-benefit studies designed to assess the efficacy of publicly-funded job training initiatives geared towards vulnerable populations, (including those struggling to escape poverty), youth and other new labor market entrants, and dislocated workers. Building on our research experience, we have also provided highly-valued technical assistance to workforce practitioners to make the public workforce development system stronger.
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