There is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Hock, H., Luca, D., Kautz, T., & Stapleton, D. (2021). Improving the outcomes of youth with medical limitations: Evidence from the National Job Corps Study. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 32(3), 636-656. https://doi.org/10.1111/jems.12423
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of Job Corps on education, earnings, employment, and public benefits receipt outcomes for youth with medical limitations.
- Using data from a randomized controlled trial, the authors conducted statistical models to compare the outcomes of youth with medical limitations who received Jobs Corps services to those who did not.
- The study found that Job Corps participants were significantly more likely to obtain education credentials, be employed, have higher earnings, and were less likely to receive public benefits compared to control group participants.
- This study receives a high evidence rating. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to Job Corps, and not to other factors.
Intervention Examined
Job Corps
Features of the Intervention
Job Corps is a federally funded education and training program established in 1964 to serve economically disadvantaged youth ages 16 to 24. Job Corps provides supports including a living allowance, general education, vocational training, soft skills training, counseling, and job placement assistance. The program uses a hands-on approach to skills development through employer-based training and community service. Participants engage in various training and group activities designed to improve employability and typically stay in the program for an average of eight months.
Features of the Study
This study used data from a randomized controlled trial. The original study (National Job Corps Study) was conducted at 119 Job Corps centers in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Eligible youth were randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group. The treatment group received Job Corps services and control group members were prevented from using Job Corps services for three years during the study period.
The data sources included Jobs Corps administrative data on program participation, a baseline survey, and follow-up surveys conducted at 12, 30, and 48 months after random assignment. The authors restricted the sample to youth with medical limitations, defined as youth who reported having a serious physical or emotional problem that restricts their ability to work or perform daily activities. This resulted in an analysis sample of 472 youth (271 treatment and 201 control) who completed the 48-month survey and had no missing data for indicators of Job Corps participation. The authors used statistical models to compare the outcomes of Job Corps participants to the outcomes of control group members.
Findings
Education and skills gains
- The study found that Job Corps participants were significantly more likely to have a GED or HS diploma at the end of year four than control group participants.
Earnings and wages
- The study found that Job Corps participants had significantly more total earnings over a four-year period than control group participants. Job Corps participants earned significantly more in years two and three than control group participants.
Employment
- The study found that Job Corps participants were significantly more likely to be employed in year four than control group participants.
- The study also found that Job Corps participants worked more total weeks over a four-year period than control group participants, with significantly higher total weeks worked in years two, three, and four.
- The study found that Job Corps participants worked significantly more total hours over a four-year period than control group participants, with significantly more hours worked in years two, three, and four.
Public benefits receipt
- The study found that Job Corps participants received less SSI over a four-year period than control group participants, receiving significantly less in year two.
- However, the study found no significant differences between the groups in the receipt of AFDC/TANF or food stamps. Also, no significant differences were found in the amount of AFDC/TANF or food stamp benefits collected over the four-year period.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
The study authors estimated multiple related impacts on outcomes related to earnings, employment, and public benefits receipt. Performing multiple statistical tests on related outcomes makes it more likely that some impacts will be found statistically significant purely by chance and not because they reflect program effectiveness. The authors did not perform statistical adjustments to account for the multiple tests, so the number of statistically significant findings in these domains is likely to be overstated.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it was based on a well-implemented randomized controlled trial. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to Job Corps, and not to other factors