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The impact of training and demographics in WIA program performance: A statistical analysis
Author(s) -
Moore Richard W.,
Gorman Philip C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
human resource development quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1532-1096
pISSN - 1044-8004
DOI - 10.1002/hrdq.20029
Subject(s) - demographics , psychological intervention , workforce , investment (military) , outcome (game theory) , psychology , participant observation , applied psychology , business , operations management , economics , political science , economic growth , sociology , demography , politics , law , anthropology , mathematical economics , psychiatry
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) measures participant labor market outcomes to drive program performance. This article uses statistical analysis to examine the relationship between participant characteristics and key outcome measures in one large California local WIA program. This study also measures the impact of different training interventions on program outcomes while controlling for participant characteristics. The findings suggest that adjusting future performance measures for participant characteristics would create more valid performance measures. Further, we find that WIA training interventions do not yield consistent positive labor market outcomes after controlling for participant demographics. Finally, we recommend directions for future research.