http://www.clasp.org/issues/rss/highlights.xml?type=employment_strategies Featured Highlights from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Sat, 18 May 2013 06:02:48 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1395034315261196800 This webinar will feature Mark Elliott and Anne Roder of Mobility, discussing findings from their forthcoming report on worker and employer experiences with subsidized employment programs. In this study, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, Mobility examined the implementation of subsidized employment programs in five locations and conducted an employer survey, focus groups with participants, and reviewed wage and program participation data in order to uncover the benefits and challenges of participation for employers and workers. They found that both employers and workers benefited from these programs. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1395034315261196800 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8341944492019909376 The webinar is the first of a series that highlights the joint paper by the National Transitional Jobs Network at Heartland Alliance and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). Innovative City and State Funding Approaches to Supporting Subsidized Employment and Transitional Jobs provides suggestions and examples of innovative funding strategies for subsidized job programs to cities, states, and other public-sector entities that are considering or have decided to implement or expand subsidized employment programming. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8341944492019909376 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0051 The PresidentaEUR(TM)s budget blueprint released on Wednesday calls for Congress to support employment and job training opportunities for the long-term unemployed and low-income adults and youth through the Pathways Back to Work Fund. Even as the economy recovers, too many unemployed workers and individuals with low education and skill levels face a difficult job market. This legislative proposal, which was introduced as part of the American Jobs Act, builds on the successful, two-year program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that provided jobs for about 260,000 people in 39 states and the District of Columbia. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0051 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Transitional-Jobs-Report_Warland-Young-Lower-Basch.pdf A new paper from the National Transitional Jobs Network and CLASP provides strategies and makes recommendations on leveraging and blending multiple sources of funding to support subsidized employment programs. In addition to highlighting the opportunities to use block grant funding, from both TANF and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the paper identifies efforts to fund these jobs by averting future expenses associated with prisons and other corrections measures and by leveraging public contracting and bidding opportunities. The webinar is also available. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Transitional-Jobs-Report_Warland-Young-Lower-Basch.pdf Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Big-Ideas-for-Job-Creation-Rethinking-Work-Opportunity.pdf This paper is part of the Big Ideas for Job Creation in a Jobless Recovery project, which includes proposals from more than a dozen leading experts on practical, scalable proposals to create more jobs for the U.S. economy. CLASP Senior Policy Analyst Elizabeth Lower-Basch recommends that deeper, more targeted subsidies administered at the state level are an effective way to encourage employers to hire disadvantaged workers and create jobs. There are federal subsidies such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) currently in place to encourage hiring of disadvantaged workers, but in contrast, they often provide large windfalls to employers in low-wage, high-turnover industries without creating any net new jobs or changing who they hire. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Big-Ideas-for-Job-Creation-Rethinking-Work-Opportunity.pdf Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0049 The economy in general, and job creation in particular, was the top priority for voters in this monthaEUR(TM)s general election. But Congress could put the country back into recession if it fails to act during the post-election session to avoid sequestration (automatic, across-the-board, spending cuts), allows federal extended unemployment insurance benefits to run out, and fails to extend middle-class tax cuts. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0049 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0027 This CLASP analysis of the American Jobs Act examines provisions specifically aimed at those workers most affected by the recession as well as those struggling even before the economy turned sour. In particular, it looks at the $5 billion Pathways Back to Work Fund, which includes three elements that would create work and learning opportunities for thousands of disadvantaged individuals across the country. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0027 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Subsidized-Employment-Paper-Final.pdf During 2009 and 2010, 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and eight Tribal TANF programs received approval to use $1.3 billion from the TANF Emergency Fund to create new subsidized employment programs or expand existing ones. This paper examines how states used the flexibility they were given to design and implement subsidized employment programs and what challenges they faced in getting them up and running, and draws lessons for future such programs. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Subsidized-Employment-Paper-Final.pdf Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0050 Subsidized and transitional jobs are a proven way to give unemployed workers the opportunity to earn wages, build skills, and connect to the labor market, while also giving businesses an incentive to hire new employees when they might not have been able to do so otherwise. A variety of non-profit, social enterprise, and city and state public entities have operated transitional jobs and subsidized employment programs for almost 30 years. Funding from the TANF Emergency Fund in 2009-2010, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), enabled the operation of such programs at a larger scale, and in more places, than had previously occurred. More than 260,000 individuals were placed in subsidized positions in 39 states and the District of Columbia. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0050 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1038&list=publications Economic hard times and continuing high unemployment have spurred interest in a provision in federal unemployment insurance (UI) law that allows states to enact work sharing programs. As the nation's economic recovery remains weak, a growing number of businesses are searching for ways to weather the economic downturn and retain their workforce. Work sharing has become a viable alternative to layoffs in states that have these programs in place. This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about state work sharing programs. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1038&list=publications Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://clasp.articulatedman.com/admin/site/publications/files/0481.pdf At a time of rising unemployment, work sharing programs provide an alternative to layoffs and have benefits for workers, employers and the government. These programs should be expanded and more states should adopt them. This paper describes work sharing and the opportunity for federal action to expand its use. http://clasp.articulatedman.com/admin/site/publications/files/0481.pdf Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Emergency-Fund-Extension.pdf Congress should extend the TANF Emergency Fund as soon as possible so that states can continue to start and expand subsidized jobs programs. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Emergency-Fund-Extension.pdf Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0676&list=publications Six federal policy recommendations for how the public Workforce Investment and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families systems could be mobilized to create new work opportunities for low-income, unemployed workers. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0676&list=publications Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=temporary_assistance&id=0005 Documents that various states have used for their successful TANF Emergency Fund subsidized jobs programs. http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=temporary_assistance&id=0005 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/WorkSharingPPT.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/documents/files/WorkSharingPPT.pdf Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://clasp.articulatedman.com/admin/site/publications/files/0483.pdf This paper highlights new opportunities to develop or expand Transitional Jobs programs using funding from the new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund, which was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. http://clasp.articulatedman.com/admin/site/publications/files/0483.pdf Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://clasp.articulatedman.com/admin/site/publications/files/0489.pdf This paper explores models and mechanisms for connecting low-skilled jobseekers to ARRA-related job opportunities--including community-benefit agreements, job linkage/first source hiring, and goals and standards for job creation and job quality--and for subsequently engaging jobseekers in further skill-building and educational programs. http://clasp.articulatedman.com/admin/site/publications/files/0489.pdf Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/safetynettestimony.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/safetynettestimony.pdf