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Transitional employment

Health Factors: Employment
Decision Makers: Businesses & Employers, Community Organizations, Government - Local, Government - State
Evidence Rating: Some Evidence
Population Reach: 1-9% of WI's population
Impact on Disparities: Likely to decrease disparities

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Description

Transitional jobs are time-limited, subsidized, paid jobs intended to provide a bridge to unsubsidized employment. Jobs may be combined with training and services to help participants overcome barriers to employment and build work-related skills (CLASP-Baider 2006).

Expected Beneficial Outcomes

Increased employment
Increased income
Reduced recidivism

Evidence of Effectiveness

There is some evidence that transitional jobs improve employment and earnings, especially in the short-term (MDRC-Bloom 2010a, CLASP-Baider 2006). Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects.

Transitional jobs increase employment for hard-to-employ persons for the duration of the subsidized position (MDRC-Bloom 2010a, CLASP-Baider 2006, MDRC-Redcross 2010). Certain programs such as the Catholic Charities Community Transitional Jobs Program and Personal Roads to Individual Development and Employment (PRIDE) have been shown to increase earnings and competitive employment after subsidized employment ends, especially for participants who complete the transitional jobs program (CLASP-Baider 2006, Mathematica-Kirby 2002, MDRC-Bloom 2010a).

Some programs have demonstrated other positive effects such as emotional benefits (Mathematica-Kirby 2002), and reduced Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) use even after the employment gains end (MDRC-Bloom 2010a).

For former prisoners, transitional job programs do not appear to impact long-term employment (MDRC-Bloom 2010a, MDRC-Redcross 2010). However, the Center for Employment Opportunities program in New York reduced recidivism long-term (MDRC-Redcross 2010), particularly for persons most likely to re-offend (Zweig 2011). Other programs have yielded mixed effects on recidivism (MDRC-Redcross 2010, CLASP-Baider 2006).

Transitional job program costs have been shown to range between $1,200 and $3,000 per participant per month (in 2012 dollars), with $400 to $1,000 of those funds going to wages (Mathematica-Kirby 2002).

Implementation Examples

United States

Most recent transitional jobs programs have focused on TANF recipients or former prisoners. Many states used TANF Emergency Funds granted through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to fund transitional jobs programs (CBPP-Pavetti 2011).

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Works (W-2) offers trial jobs and community service jobs to TANF participants. Employers offering trial jobs are subsidized while training employees and then expected to hire those employees. Community service jobs include real work training with additional support and supervision (WI DCF-Wisconsin works). For low income adults not receiving TANF, the Wisconsin Transitional Jobs Demonstration Project will continue through June 30, 2012. Using ARRA funds, Wisconsin reimburses $7.25 per hour of a transitional employee's wages for up to 40 hours per week for six months (CBPP-Pavetti 2011). The New Hope Project, a demonstration program in Milwaukee including transitional jobs, yielded participants short-term economic gains and some long-term benefits (MDRC-Miller 2008). Participants were required to work at least 30 hours per week to qualify for earnings supplements and subsidized child care and health insurance (MDRC-New Hope).

Implementation Resources

CEO - Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). Change that works. Accessed on June 15, 2012
Webpage: http://ceoworks.org/
National Transitional Jobs Network - National Transitional Jobs Network (NTJN). Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.heartlandalliance.org/ntjn/
WI DCF-Transitional jobs - Wisconsin Department of Children & Families (DCF). Transitional jobs. Accessed on June 18, 2012
Webpage: http://dcf.wi.gov/w2/tj/default.htm

Citations - Description

CLASP-Baider 2006 - Baider A, Frank, A. Transitional jobs: Helping TANF recipients with barriers to employment succeed in the labor market. Washington, DC: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); 2006. Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/0296.pdf

Citations - Evidence

CLASP-Baider 2006 - Baider A, Frank, A. Transitional jobs: Helping TANF recipients with barriers to employment succeed in the labor market. Washington, DC: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); 2006. Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/0296.pdf
Mathematica-Kirby 2002 - Kirby G, Hill H, Pavetti L, et al. Transitional jobs: Stepping stones to unsubsidized employment. Princeton: Mathematica Policy Research; 2002. Accessed on June 20, 2012
Webpage: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/SearchList2.aspx?jumpsrch=yes&txtSearch=transitional jobs
MDRC-Bloom 2010a - Bloom D. Transitional jobs: Background, program models, and evaluation evidence. New York: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC); 2010. Accessed on November 27, 2012
Webpage: http://www.mdrc.org/transitional-jobs
MDRC-Redcross 2010 - Redcross C, Bloom D, Jacobs E, et al. Work after prison: One-year findings from the transitional jobs reentry demonstration. New York: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC); 2010. Accessed on November 27, 2012
Webpage: http://www.mdrc.org/work-after-prison
Zweig 2011* - Zweig J, Yahner J, Redcross C. For whom does a transitional jobs program work? Examining the recidivism effects of the Center for Employment Opportunities program on former prisoners at high, medium, and low risk of reoffending. Criminology & Public Policy. 2011;10(4):945-72. Accessed on June 19, 2012
Webpage: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-9133.2011.00767.x/full

Citations - Implementation Examples

CBPP-Pavetti 2011 - Pavetti L, Schott L, Lower-Basch E. Creating subsidized employment opportunities for low-income parents: The legacy of the TANF emergency fund. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP); 2011. Accessed on June 19, 2012
Webpage: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3400
MDRC-Miller 2008 - Miller C, Huston AC, Duncan GJ, McLoyd VC, Weisner TS. New hope for the working poor: Effects after eight years for families and children. New York: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC); 2008. Accessed on November 27, 2012
Webpage: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/488/overview.html
MDRC-New Hope - Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC). New Hope Project. Accessed on November 27, 2012
Webpage: http://www.mdrc.org/project/%3Fmake-work-pay%3F-experiments#design_site_data_sources
WI DCF-Wisconsin works - Wisconsin Department of Children & Families (DCF). Wisconsin Works (W-20). Accessed on June 18, 2012
Webpage: http://dcf.wi.gov/w2/default.htm

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Evidence Rating

Level of effectiveness based on a scan of academic literature and key recommendations of leading organizations.

  • Scientifically Supported Numerous studies or systematic review(s) with positive results
  • Some Evidence Research suggests positive impacts; further study may be warranted
  • Expert Opinion Recommended by credible groups*; research evidence limited
  • Insufficient Evidence Evidence limited or unavailable; further study warranted
  • Mixed Evidence Evidence mixed; further study warranted
  • Evidence of Ineffectiveness Research consistently shows program is detrimental or has no effect

Although many policies and programs are recommended by credible groups, we apply the rating ‘expert opinion’ only when policies are recommended but limited scientific evidence of effectiveness is available.

* The American Heritage Dictionary defines credible as 'capable of being believed; plausible.' and 'worthy of confidence; reliable.' To be considered an 'expert recommendation,' policies and programs must be recommended by one or more organizations that are recognized for their impartial expertise in the area of interest and have limited evidence available.

Potential Population Reach

Portion of Wisconsin's population likely to be reached by a policy or program if implemented statewide, based on its characteristics (e.g., target population(s), geographic limitations, and potential implementers).

<1%   20-49%
1-9%   50-99%
10-19%   100%

Potential Population Reach

Portion of Wisconsin's population likely to be reached by a policy or program if implemented statewide, based on its characteristics (e.g., target population(s), geographic limitations, and potential implementers).

<1%   20-49%
1-9%   50-99%
10-19%   100%

Potential Impact on Health Disparities

Likely impact of a given policy or program on racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic or other disparities in Wisconsin based on its characteristics (e.g., target audience, mode of delivery, etc.) and best available evidence related to disparities.

  • Likely to decrease disparities
  • No impact on disparities likely
  • Likely to increase disparities