"Even in good economic times, many adults — particularly those with just a high school education — struggle to get and keep jobs that pay enough to support their families and permit upward mobility. At the same time, some employers have difficulty finding people with the right skills to meet their needs.
This report from MDRC discusses how programs that target in-demand industries or sectors and heavily involve employers in training and work-based learning can be effective when well implemented. These approaches can be used for different populations at different stages of their education and employment trajectory — from high school students to people who have been unemployed for a long time — and help them build pathways to careers. They can assist dislocated workers and those without 21st-century skills to gain or regain a foothold in the job market, while helping employers find the skilled workers they need."