Mon Sep 23 22:25:43 UTC 2024: ## More Data Needed to Evaluate Effectiveness of Job Programs for Black Workers
**Washington, D.C. -** A new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies highlights the need for more data to determine the effectiveness of job programs, particularly “sector partnerships,” in addressing employment and wage disparities faced by Black workers. While these partnerships, which involve collaborations between employers, educational institutions, and community organizations, have shown promise in increasing pay and job retention for Black workers, the report emphasizes the lack of robust data on their long-term impact.
The report cites past studies highlighting how the current workforce system disproportionately directs Black workers towards low-wage opportunities with limited career advancement. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), enacted in 2014, requires workforce boards to collect data and develop sector initiatives, but it does not allocate specific funding for sector partnerships.
“While sector partnerships are required, they are currently unfunded, so funding needs to be attached to them,” stated Justin Nalley, senior policy analyst at the Joint Center.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the “A Stronger Workforce for America Act,” which aims to expand workers’ skills development and codify sector partnerships while making them eligible for funding. The Joint Center advocates for the inclusion of a data requirement on program-level outcomes reported by race in the Senate version of the bill.
The report also underscores the underfunding of federal and state agencies responsible for anti-discrimination policies, such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This underfunding creates gaps in accountability for equitable outcomes and hinders efforts to identify and counteract discrimination in the labor market.
Despite implementing efficiencies and recovering significant monetary benefits for victims of discrimination, the EEOC acknowledged the persistent need for increased funding.
A 2021 Department of Labor study revealed that Black workers in training programs, including sector partnerships, consistently earn less than their white counterparts in various fields. This further highlights the systemic challenges faced by Black workers in accessing opportunities for skills development and wage growth.
“The availability of getting the skills you need to make higher salaries, a lot of those opportunities have been restricted just by discrimination,” said Representative Bobby Scott, who introduced the “A Stronger Workforce for America Act” alongside Representative Virginia Foxx.
This report emphasizes the critical need for robust data collection and analysis to assess the effectiveness of job programs in achieving equity for Black workers. It also calls for increased funding and policy interventions to address systemic discrimination and ensure equitable access to opportunities in the workforce.
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