The Effectiveness of Publicly Financed Training in the United States: Implications for WIA and Related Programs

Abstract

The principal focus of this chapter is publicly financed, subbacca- laureate education and training in the United States. I first discuss the context within which training is provided in the United States. I then examine the nature of publicly financed training and review the evi- dence on the effectiveness of various types of training for key target populations of interest, emphasizing the results from experimental evaluations. I conclude with a series of observations, implications, and lessons for U.S. training policies and programs, with emphasis on the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 that is expected to be reau- thorized by Congress.