NCJ Number
240118
Date Published
June 2001
Length
98 pages
Annotation
This report, one of a series that presents findings from the National Job Corps evaluation, presents the findings and methodology from an analysis of the average impacts of the Job Corps program on post-program earnings and other outcomes.
Abstract
The Job Corps plays a central role in Federal efforts to provide employment assistance to disadvantaged youths ages 16 to 24. The goal is to help these individuals become "more responsible, employable, and productive citizens" by providing them with comprehensive services that include basic education, vocational skills training, counseling, and residential support. The National Job Corps Study intends to provide Congress and program managers with the information they need to assess how well Job Corps is attaining its goal. The evaluation found that nearly all of the positive program impacts on earnings benefited those who achieved one of two major milestones: completing a vocational training program or attaining a GED. The estimated impact for students who completed their vocational programs became positive after the sixth quarter, reaching $40 per week by quarter 11 and remaining between $40-$50 per week through quarter 16. Students who did not complete their vocational training are estimated to have slightly lower earnings than their matched comparison group during the period they are most likely enrolled in Job Corp. Although the findings show no Job Corps impacts for non-graduates, this should not be interpreted as evidence that Job Corp should not serve students who do not complete the program. This is because of the inherent difficulty of predicting which students will complete the program and graduate and which students will not. 30 figures and 8 tables