New Data Needed to Assess Job Programs for Black Workers, Report Says

A report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies calls for more data to determine if job programs like sector partnerships help Black workers who face employment and wage disparities. It critiques the current workforce system for steering Black workers into low-wage opportunities with minimal career growth.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies has released a report emphasizing the need for more data to evaluate whether job programs such as sector partnerships effectively aid Black workers facing employment and wage disparities.

The workforce system is criticized for directing Black workers towards low-wage jobs that offer limited career advancement and economic mobility. Sector partnerships, collaborative efforts between industry employers, educational institutions, community organizations, and unions, are highlighted as a potential solution to increase pay and job retention for Black workers.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, enacted in July 2014, mandates regional labor market data collection to develop sector initiatives but does not allocate specific funding for sector partnerships. Recent legislative efforts, such as the Stronger Workforce for America Act, seek to extend skills development and sector partnership funding eligibility.

(With inputs from agencies.)