Harry J. Holzer Holzer Harry J. Georgetown University Georgetown - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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. Harry J. Holzer Holzer

Georgetown University Georgetown University The Urban Institute The Urban Institute Prepared for the conference, Prepared for the conference, Strategies for Improving Economic Strategies for Improving Economic Mobility of Workers, Mobility of Workers, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago November 2007 November 2007

Plan of the Presentation Plan of the Presentation

• Two Problems:

Two Problems:

1) 1) Low wages and advancement prospects of the Low wages and advancement prospects of the Working Poor Working Poor 2) 2) Nonparticipation in the labor market for Nonparticipation in the labor market for Black Men Black Men and other and other Hard to Employ Hard to Employ Groups Groups 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 Creating More High-

• Wage Jobs

Wage Jobs

• Minimum wage

Minimum wage

• Collective bargaining

Collective bargaining

• Economic development approaches?

Economic development approaches?