Purpose

This study aimed to (1) systematically identify evaluation studies of U.S. active labor market programs (ALMPs) focusing on postsecondary education and job skills training for low-income individuals with employment barriers (hereinafter, Human Capital Development [HCD] programs) since the U.S. federal welfare reform of 1996, and (2) provide a synthesis of common strategies used by programs that reported post-program earnings higher than poverty thresholds.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes (PICO) criteria endorsed by the Cochrane Collaboration, we identified evaluation studies of HCD programs from seven electronic databases and experts' suggestions. Using data (e.g., post-program earnings, main types of services) extracted from the included studies, we describe common strategies used by the programs reporting earnings above the poverty level.

Findings

Of 877 studies identified from an initial search, 10 studies met our inclusion/exclusion criteria and thus were included in the final sample. Findings showed that HCD programs reporting earnings above the poverty level for a family of three were characterized by (1) curriculums targeting specific job sectors and occupations, (2) local employers' involvement in developing curriulums and providing work opportunities and (3) post-program job retention and career advancement services.

Originality/value

The present study used a systematic review approach to fill gaps in research regarding HCD-focused ALMPs in the U.S. post-welfare reform era by identifying common strategies the effective programs used to help participants obtain employment and exit poverty. Findings may inform the design and implementation of employment programs that will help low-income individuals with employment barriers acquire marketable knowledge and job skills, and thus increase their economic self-sufficiency via improved employment outcomes.

中文翻译：

---

摆脱贫困：在福利改革后时代对美国的专上教育和职业技能培训计划进行系统的回顾

目的

这项研究的目的是（1）系统地确定美国活跃劳动力市场计划（ALMP）的评估研究，重点是针对自美国以来具有就业障碍的低收入人士的中学后教育和工作技能培训（以下简称“人力资本开发[HCD]”计划）。 1996年的联邦福利改革，以及（2）提供了报告后计划收入高于贫困线阈值的计划所使用的通用策略的综合报告。

设计/方法/方法

使用Cochrane合作组织认可的人口，干预，比较和结果（PICO）标准，我们从七个电子数据库和专家建议中确定了HCD计划的评估研究。使用从纳入研究中提取的数据（例如，计划后收入，主要服务类型），我们描述了报告收入高于贫困水平的计划所使用的通用策略。

发现

初步搜索确定的877项研究中，有10项研究符合我们的纳入/排除标准，因此被纳入最终样本。调查结果表明，HCD计划报告的收入高于三人家庭的贫困水平，其特点是（1）针对特定职业和职业的课程；（2）当地雇主参与制定课程和提供工作机会；以及（3）计划工作保留和职业发展服务。

创意/价值

本研究通过确定共同的策略，即用于帮助参与者获得就业和摆脱贫困的有效计划，采用了系统的综述方法，以填补美国福利改革后时代针对以HCD为重点的ALMP的研究空白。研究结果可以为就业计划的设计和实施提供信息，这些计划将帮助有就业障碍的低收入人士获得适销对路的知识和工作技能，从而通过改善就业成果来提高他们的经济自给自足。