Activation policies are widely adopted to encourage labour market participation of unemployed youth, and yet they are poorly understood and monitored with regard to the causal mechanisms unfolding through their implementation. Activation schemes are often based on the carrot-and-stick logic informed by microeconomic job search theory, but…

Causal inference regarding a hypothesized mediation mechanism relies on the assumptions that there are no omitted pretreatment confounders (i.e., confounders preceding the treatment) of the treatment-mediator, treatment-outcome, and mediator-outcome relationships, and there are no posttreatment confounders (i.e., confounders affected by the…

Researchers examined 49 unemployed subjects enrolled in a one-week employability skills training program in the mid-east region of the U.S. for a period of about one year. Classroom size was about four to five clients taught by two professional instructors. Subjects were administered a Job Search Self-Confidence Survey utilising a…

A new 'Work & Skills' initiative is needed for people who are long-term unemployed. Next year there could be between 1 to 1.6 million people who have been out of work for 12 months or more. This could be the highest since the 1980s and will have drastic implications for families and whole communities across the United Kingdom (UK). There needs…

The institutionalised categorisation of adults who are over 55 years of age, unemployed and low-skilled as "older" and "disadvantaged" may adversely affect their employment prospects and their self-esteem. This paper reports on the findings of a study that explored the experiences of a small group of such adults; in particular,…

This Practice Report describes the development and implementation of the "Maine Employability Skills Program," a model employment program developed by the Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI). The program was designed to support the efforts of the chronically unemployed or underemployed. These consumers were either…

The author examined the role of narratives used by unemployed, underemployed, and displaced workers seeking job training assistance through a government-funded One-Stop Career Center. Interviews with employees of a One-Stop Career Center provided insight on client rate of disclosure of personal narratives and how client narratives are used to…

This study focused on community based organizations leading community colleges in workforce development partnerships to train unemployed and underemployed adults. These collaborations operate where community based organizations deliver case management and job search skills, while community colleges offer specific training. In order to examine…

Finnish job seekers (n=559) were followed up after 1 year (n=401) after 84.3% participated in guidance courses, subsidized employment, vocational training, or some combination. Guidance courses enhanced reemployment. None of the interventions increased job-seeking activity. Training temporarily decreased psychological distress. Deteriorating…

Operation Able of Michigan is part of a national network of organizations designed to (1) promote employer and public awareness of the qualities of older workers; (2) inform older citizens of services; (3) link employers with older job seekers; and (4) coordinate and strengthen agencies and services. (JOW)

This report describes a congressional hearing on implementation of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program enacted by the Family Support Act of 1988. Focus is on the progress being made. Testimony includes statements and prepared statements from U.S. senators, and individuals representing the Administration for Children and…

The reemployment, retraining, and relocation experiences of a random sample (n=112) of displaced steelworkers (97 percent males, 85 percent whites, and 14 percent Blacks) from a small metropolitan community in western Pennsylvania were studied using a cross-sectional survey research design. Respondents actively pursued retraining and employment in…

Existing data on youth employment and career guidance programs were analyzed to identify factors that are most important in producing individuals who can find and keep a job. The data were obtained longitudinally from 419 youth employment training program participants and from 356 non-participants over approximately three years beyond the time of…

Five strategies have been identified as particularly promising as the most useful ways government can spend money to aid dislocated workers. The mix of income support programs can be enriched for workers who have been unemployed for a long time but who are not permanently dislocated. For most dislocated workers, only limited job searching…

Improvement is needed in services offered by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and the U.S. Employment Service programs to give designated classes of Armed Forces veterans special treatment. This finding is based on reviews of six city programs and national program data. "Special treatment," although required, was not…