Career Pathways Descriptive and Analytical Project

In 2018, the Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to fund contractor Abt. Associates to conduct the Career Pathways Descriptive and Analytical project, which included a portfolio of three studies: a meta-analysis on the impacts of career pathways program approaches; a longitudinal career trajectories and occupational transitions study; and an exploratory machine learning study. Each study fills important gaps in the evidence base and offers new questions for future testing.

Check out the all the project’s reports, briefs, and public use data to learn more, and use the interactive Career Trajectories and Occupational Transitions Dashboard to make decisions that reflect the real-world experience of workers.

Check out the Evidence Coffee Breaks series below to hear short summaries of key findings and implications for career pathways and related programs.

Video #1: How Well Has The Career Pathways Approach Worked? This video reviews the results of a meta-analysis of career pathways evaluations that examined 1) whether career pathways programs have increased participants’ educational progress and helped them to find employment and earn higher wages and 2) what traits characterize more effective career pathways programs.

Video #2: Launchpad Occupations And Why They Matter For Career Pathways Programs This video reviews the results of the Career Trajectories and Occupational Transitions (CTOT) study, which examined career advancement for workers in mid-level occupations, including which occupations lead to higher wage growth (launchpad occupations) for these workers, what characteristics distinguish launchpads from other occupations, and how career trajectories differ for workers of different backgrounds and experiences.

 Video #3: Career Advancement From Mid-Level Occupations For Women And People Of Color This video reviews findings from the Career Trajectories and Occupational Transitions study explorations of career advancement for women and people of color working in mid-level occupations, which found significant differences in wage growth over time for these workers and considered implications for practice.

Video #4: Evidence-Based Insights For Career Pathways And Other Employment And Training Programs This video considers actionable implications that can be drawn from across the studies in the Career Pathways Descriptive and Analytical project, focusing specifically on implications related to program effectiveness and influential program characteristics, career advancement, and equity for women and people of color.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2022
• Organizational Author(s): US Department of Labor
• Posted by: Gary Gonzalez
• Posted in: Career Pathways