The economic benefits of the General Educational Development certificate (GED) were examined through a review of four published papers and four unpublished working papers on the GED's benefits. Key findings were as follows: (1) a GED provides economic benefits only to low-skilled dropouts; (2) economic benefits of a GED appear over time--often…

In order to develop conclusions about future policy aimed at addressing the challenge of workers at risk because of low skills, the NEWSKILLS project combined scientific analysis with consultation with social partner representatives, policy analysis, and field work in firms. Population proportions in International Standard Classification of…

Attempts to explain sex-related wage differentials generally rely on the human capital and segmentation labor market theories. The human capital theory explains individuals' position in the labor market primarily in terms of factors determining their productivity, whereas segmentation theory focuses on differences among jobs as determinants of the…

The Youth in Transition Survey (YITS) is a longitudinal survey that was developed over a 3-year period by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and Statistics Canada in consultation with provincial and territorial ministries and departments of labor and education. The YITS is designed to provide policy-relevant information about school-to-work…

The extent of sex segregation in vocational and technical education (VTE) in U.S. high schools nearly 30 years after passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was examined in a national study. The key findings were as follows: (1) sex segregation is pervasive in high school-level VTE nationwide; (2) sex segregation results in…

The labor market outcomes of non-college-bound high school graduates were examined by analyzing the 1980 High School and Beyond Fourth Follow-up Survey, which contains information on more than 14,000 former high school students who were interviewed in 1980 as sophomores and again in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1992. The study concentrated on respondents…

The outcomes and implementation of career academy programs in California were examined in a study of one school district's efforts to implement a uniform career academy model in 1990-1996. A cohort of approximately 10,000 students who were sophomores in the district's comprehensive high schools between 1990 and 1993 were followed through high…

Idaho's displaced homemaker program exists to reduce the incidence of poverty among the 59,498 displaced homemakers (according to the 1990 census) and 22,147 single mothers in the state. Of those who participated in Idaho's displaced homemaker programs in fiscal year 1998 (FY1998), 924 (33%) earned less than $5,000 annually, and two-thirds had…

The National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies was conducted to explore whether programs examined in the evaluation have helped welfare recipients move into the labor force and remain employed over the long term. As part of the evaluation, a study was conducted to identify the 4-year impacts that 10 programs in 6 sites have had on former…

Employer and employee perceptions of the skills and abilities needed by college graduates in a changing workplace were examined through semistructured, in-depth interviews with a sample of 84 strategic managers, 84 college graduates, and 35 nongraduate employees in 91 organizations across England and Scotland that represented a mix of organization…

The cost-effectiveness and 3-year impacts of California's Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) program, which is a statewide initiative aimed at increasing the employment and self-sufficiency of recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), were evaluated by studying follow-up data for 33,000 people from 6 counties who entered…

A study analyzed the career outcomes of men and women Ph.D.s Based on a sample survey of approximately 50,000 Ph.D scientists, engineers, and humanists, conducted in 1979 by the National Research Council, the study examined 5164 triads consisting of one woman and two men who were matched as nearly as possible according to selected background…

A review of current and completed research relating to youth aged 14-17 with special educational needs (with special emphasis on research relevant to the British educational context) reveals that, to date, most research has examined the needs of young people with special conditions rather than focusing on a broader cross-section of all young…

The benefits of offering high school students career and technical education (CTE) in addition to training in basic academic skills and the cost-effectiveness of CTE were examined by reviewing available data on demand, supply, and results for CTE. The analysis confirmed that the market and demand for workers with only a high school education still…

The 2000 Student Outcomes Survey was a national survey of students who undertook vocational education and training (VET) during 1999 at a technical and further education (TAFE) institute in Australia. Questionnaires mailed to stratified, randomly selected samples of graduates and module completers yielded national response levels of 55.8% and…