What Might I mprove the Employment What Might I mprove the Employment and Advancement Prospects of the Poor? and Advancement Prospects of the Poor? Harry J. Holzer Holzer Harry J. Georgetown University Georgetown University The Urban Institute The Urban Institute Prepared for the conference, Strategies for Improving Economic Prepared for the conference, Strategies for Improving Economic Mobility of Workers, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Mobility of Workers, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago November 2007 November 2007
Plan of the Presentation Plan of the Presentation Two Problems: Two Problems: � � 1) Low wages and advancement prospects of the 1) Low wages and advancement prospects of the Working Poor Working Poor 2) Nonparticipation in the labor market for Black Men Black Men 2) Nonparticipation in the labor market for and other Hard to Employ Hard to Employ Groups Groups and other For each group: For each group: Causes of Their Problems Causes of Their Problems � � Potential Policy Remedies? Potential Policy Remedies? � �
The Working Poor: The Working Poor: What are their Problems? What are their Problems? � Poor Education/Skills, “Soft Skills,” Lack of � Poor Education/Skills, “Soft Skills,” Lack of Occupational Training and Work Experience Occupational Training and Work Experience � Lack of Access to “Good Jobs” � Lack of Access to “Good Jobs” – – Information, Information, Transportation, Informal Contacts, Discrimination; Transportation, Informal Contacts, Discrimination; Declining Numbers of Such Jobs? Declining Numbers of Such Jobs? � Job Instability: Child Care, Transportation, Health � Job Instability: Child Care, Transportation, Health Issues Issues
the Nonattached: the Nonattached: What are their Problems? What are their Problems? � Families, Schools and Neighborhoods � Families, Schools and Neighborhoods � Early Disconnection from School and Work � Early Disconnection from School and Work � Non � Non- -mainstream Behaviors: Crime and Unwed mainstream Behaviors: Crime and Unwed Fatherhood Fatherhood � Ex � Ex- -Offender Status and Child Support Arrears: Offender Status and Child Support Arrears: Barriers and Disincentives Barriers and Disincentives
Policies Policies The Working Poor The Working Poor � Job Training � Job Training � Sectoral Sectoral, Incumbent Worker, Career Ladders, Apprenticeships , Incumbent Worker, Career Ladders, Apprenticeships � � Job Placement Assistance � Job Placement Assistance � Other Supports and Services � Other Supports and Services � Labor Market Intermediaries � Labor Market Intermediaries Evaluation Evidence? Need More Evaluation Evidence? Need More
Policies Policies The Nonattached The Nonattached Early Schooling and Employment/Preventing � Early Schooling and Employment/Preventing � Disconnection Disconnection � Improving Incentives to Work: Extending EITC Improving Incentives to Work: Extending EITC � � Reducing Barriers and Disincentives for Ex Reducing Barriers and Disincentives for Ex- - � Offenders and Welfare Recipients Offenders and Welfare Recipients
Policies Policies Creating More High- -Wage Jobs Wage Jobs Creating More High � Minimum wage � Minimum wage � Collective bargaining � Collective bargaining � Economic development approaches? � Economic development approaches?
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