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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Labor Economics

Selected Works

Kevin Hollenbeck

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Articles 1 - 30 of 45

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Refining Workforce Education Supply And Demand Analysis: Final Report, Brad J. Hershbein, Kevin Hollenbeck Oct 2015

Refining Workforce Education Supply And Demand Analysis: Final Report, Brad J. Hershbein, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Sensitivity Testing Of Net Impact Estimates Of Workforce Development Programs Using Administrative Data, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Sensitivity Testing Of Net Impact Estimates Of Workforce Development Programs Using Administrative Data, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

This paper addresses the question of whether administrative data sources, such as performance monitoring data, can be used for program evaluation purposes. It argues that under certain circumstances, such data can be used. In particular, program performance data that are routinely gathered and monitored by administrators of many workforce development programs meet these circumstances. The paper goes on to demonstrate the point by using administrative data from the state of Washington to examine the net impact on earnings and employment of services provided to adults under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Because of a lack of consensus about appropriate net …


Lessons Learned From A State-Funded Workplace Literacy Program, Kevin Hollenbeck, Bridget F. Timmeney Jan 2015

Lessons Learned From A State-Funded Workplace Literacy Program, Kevin Hollenbeck, Bridget F. Timmeney

Kevin Hollenbeck

Findings from an evaluation of a workplace literacy program funded by the State of Indiana are presented. Working with employers, providers were given considerable latitude to design their own training regimens. The state awarded certificates to workers who achieved certain levels of proficiency in reading, math, critical thinking, problem solving (assessed by CASAS), and computer literacy (certified by IC3). The evaluation relied on qualitative and quantitative data. Multiple site visits were undertaken and a survey of participants (n = 1,800), learning gains, and earnings histories were quantitatively analyzed. Key findings include a significant interest in college attendance by incumbent workers, …


Dislocated Worker Human Capital Depreciation And Recovery, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Dislocated Worker Human Capital Depreciation And Recovery, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

Previous studies have estimated the "human capital depreciation" of women re-entering the work force after voluntary, lengthy interruptions. Those studies have found reduced real wages and furthermore the decrease is positively related to the length of the interruption. Upon re-entry, however, real wages grow rapidly as human capital is restored. This paper develops a model of the wage histories of dislocated workers. Similar to labor force re-entrants, those dislocated workers who become re-employed would experience wages below their final wage prior to dislocation and the decrease should be associated with the length of dislocation. However, the model suggests that since …


Some Reflections On The Use Of Administrative Data To Estimate The Net Impacts Of Workforce Programs In Washington State, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Some Reflections On The Use Of Administrative Data To Estimate The Net Impacts Of Workforce Programs In Washington State, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the results, methodology, and processes used in a series of net labor market impact studies done for the State of Washington over the past six years. All of the studies relied on administrative data and used a technique referred to as quasi-experimental evaluation. The program interventions were the federal- and state-funded workforce development programs. The paper sets out eight "reflections" for analysts and policy makers to consider. These reflections identify lessons learned and uncertainties or issues that need more consideration and scrutiny.


Employer Motives For Investment In Training, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Employer Motives For Investment In Training, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


The Role Of Public Policy In Skills Development Of Black Workers In The 21st Century, Timothy J. Bartik, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

The Role Of Public Policy In Skills Development Of Black Workers In The 21st Century, Timothy J. Bartik, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

This paper discusses the role of public policy in the skills development system of the U.S. It further examines the implications of that policy for the skill development and career progression of black workers. The paper describes the current "system" for skills development in the United States as a two- tiered system: The "first-chance" or conventional system allows individuals to proceed through an extensive public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational sector that is supplemented by private educational institutions and is followed by employer-provided job training and work experience. The "second-chance" system is designed for individuals who do not successfully traverse …


Independent Audit Of The State's Evaluation Of The Training Benefits Program, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Independent Audit Of The State's Evaluation Of The Training Benefits Program, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

Washington's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) has been charged by the state legislature to oversee the state's Employment Security Department's evaluation of the Training Benefits program, which is a program to encourage recipients of unemployment compensation to enroll in formal education and training. Staff members from the Upjohn Institute will consult with the individuals conducting the evaluation in the initial design phase of the ESD evaluation, and then will track progress of it, and finally will audit the results.


Process And Net Impact Evaluations Of The Focus: Hope Adult Training Programs And Student Loan Fund, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Process And Net Impact Evaluations Of The Focus: Hope Adult Training Programs And Student Loan Fund, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Evidence About The Effectiveness Of Public Training Programs For Incumbent Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck, Sarah M. Klerk Jan 2015

Evidence About The Effectiveness Of Public Training Programs For Incumbent Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck, Sarah M. Klerk

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


A Net Impact Analysis Of Adult, Job-Specific Training Programs Funded By The Ohio Department Of Education, Kevin Hollenbeck, William Anderson Jan 2015

A Net Impact Analysis Of Adult, Job-Specific Training Programs Funded By The Ohio Department Of Education, Kevin Hollenbeck, William Anderson

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


What Works For Whom In Public Employment Policy?, Christopher J. O'Leary, Randall W. Eberts, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

What Works For Whom In Public Employment Policy?, Christopher J. O'Leary, Randall W. Eberts, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


The Return On Investment To Training Programs For Incumbent Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

The Return On Investment To Training Programs For Incumbent Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Workplace Literacy Programs: Why The Mismatch Between Availability And Need?, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Workplace Literacy Programs: Why The Mismatch Between Availability And Need?, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


The Economic Payoffs To Workplace Literacy, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

The Economic Payoffs To Workplace Literacy, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

This paper focuses on one of the potential benefits to improving the Nation's literacy the economic payoffs. A more literate workforce provides economic benefits to the members of the workforce themselves, to employers, and to society. Workers who improve their basic skills through participation in workplace literacy programs should be more productive and hence earn higher wages and have greater job security. Employers with more productive workers will be more competitive in their industries and will be more profitable. Society gains by having a more productive and stable economy, by having more individuals employed with higher earnings and thus paying …


Return On Investment In Workforce Development Programs, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Return On Investment In Workforce Development Programs, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

Under more and more fiscal scrutiny because of shrinking state and local budgets, workforce development programs are being asked to estimate their return on investment (ROI). This paper introduces basic concepts of ROI in workforce development programs. It distinguishes ROIs estimated for workforce programs from those that are estimated for financial investments or capital projects. The paper furthermore exposits the basic ingredients of an ROI study—identification of the treatment and time periods of analysis, identification of the net impacts of the program, and identification of net costs. Finally, the paper presents results from the estimation of the ROI for postsecondary …


Net Impacts Of Workforce Development Programs On Individuals With Low Earnings, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Net Impacts Of Workforce Development Programs On Individuals With Low Earnings, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Boosting The Economy Through Career And Technical Education, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Boosting The Economy Through Career And Technical Education, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


A Benefit-Cost Framework For Assessing The Economic Payoffs To Workplace Literacy Training, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

A Benefit-Cost Framework For Assessing The Economic Payoffs To Workplace Literacy Training, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


The Interaction Of Workforce Development Programs And Unemployment Compensation By Individuals With Disabilities In Washington State, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

The Interaction Of Workforce Development Programs And Unemployment Compensation By Individuals With Disabilities In Washington State, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Evaluating Wia Using Administrative Data, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Evaluating Wia Using Administrative Data, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Washington's Workforce Development System Pays Off, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Washington's Workforce Development System Pays Off, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Evaluation Of Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Evaluation Of Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

The Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund (WTF), funded by employer contribution (surcharge) of 0.075% of its unemployment insurance taxable wage base, provides training grants and technical assistance to organizations located in the state. The purposes of these activities are to impart or upgrade knowledge and skills of Massachusetts’ workers so that they and their employing firms can compete in the world economy. This study provided 10 case studies of firms who have received a training grant. The case studies combined qualitative and quantitative data analytical techniques to provide evidence about the net impact and return on investment of the training grant …


Using Administrative Data For Workforce Development Program Evaluation, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Using Administrative Data For Workforce Development Program Evaluation, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

This paper addresses the question of whether administrative data that are collected for performance monitoring purposes can be used for program evaluation. It argues that under certain circumstances, such data can be used. In particular, data from the state of Washington are used to examine the effectiveness of services provided to adults under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The general theme of an emerging literature on techniques for nonexperimental evaluations of social programs is that many different techniques have appropriate asymptotic properties. A contribution of this paper is to examine the sensitivity of net impact estimators to various estimation techniques. …


Evaluation Evidence About The Effectiveness Of Public Training Programs For Incumbent Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Evaluation Evidence About The Effectiveness Of Public Training Programs For Incumbent Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Employer Rents Received By Hiring Vocationally-Trained Or Experienced Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Employer Rents Received By Hiring Vocationally-Trained Or Experienced Workers, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Evaluation Of The Kent County Work Progressions Program, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

Evaluation Of The Kent County Work Progressions Program, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


Workforce Program Performance Indicators For The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Kevin Hollenbeck, Wei-Jang Huang Jan 2015

Workforce Program Performance Indicators For The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Kevin Hollenbeck, Wei-Jang Huang

Kevin Hollenbeck

No abstract provided.


A Framework For Assessing The Economic Benefits And Costs Of Workplace Literacy Training, Kevin Hollenbeck Jan 2015

A Framework For Assessing The Economic Benefits And Costs Of Workplace Literacy Training, Kevin Hollenbeck

Kevin Hollenbeck

Many individuals are grappling with the issue of whether to provide workers with training that upgrades the workers' basic academic skills. The corollary questions that flow from this issue are how to provide the training, how much training should be provided, and who should pay for the training. Workers are interested in this issue because they want to sustain productive, well-paying careers that will support adequate standards of living. Not receiving training may jeopardize their careers and earning power. Employers are interested in this issue because their economic role is to maximize corporate profits for stockholders. In most companies, worker …


Workplace Education Programs In Small- And Medium-Sized Michigan Firms, Kevin Hollenbeck, William Anderson Jan 2015

Workplace Education Programs In Small- And Medium-Sized Michigan Firms, Kevin Hollenbeck, William Anderson

Kevin Hollenbeck

This paper presents a systematic, baseline picture of workplace education programs in small and medium-sized businesses (less than 500 employees) in Michigan. Specifically, it addresses why some firms are offering and other firms are not offering workplace education programs, what are the characteristics of the programs being provided, and what are the impacts of these programs on firms and employees. The paper draws upon two data sources. Case studies of 28 Michigan businesses were undertaken between May 1991 and July 1992 and a combination mail/telephone survey of small businesses in Michigan was conducted in early 1992. The paper finds that …