Improving Economic and Career Success for Low-Income Youth and Adults

Opportunities for Serving the Low-Income

In September 2014, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) released their "game plan for low-income people."  

Titled "New Opportunities to Improve Economic and Career Success for Low-Income Youth and Adults," this brief provides a summary of important provisions in the Workforce Investment Opportunities Act (WIOA) and explains why change is needed for low-income youth and adult populations. This summary of key provisions focuses on opportunities to improve services in select WIOA core programs, such as:

• career planning to prepare low-income adults, youth, and dislocated workers for employment and to help them continue to build skills once they are employed; and
• demand-driven adult education and literacy funding, including English language services. 

This report also provides a chart of new WIOA provisions that create opportunities for success for low income workers.

Multi-Generational Poverty

Breaking the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next requires investment in human capital.  To create pathways out of poverty for low-income individuals, basic education, skill remediation, work experience and occupational training are all needed.

Improving career success for low-income individuals and public assistance recipients translates into self-sufficient wages, and a boost to the community's overall prosperity.  In fact, it is usually one strategy among many for a region's economic development plan. For data sources to assist in data-driven career planning information, please see Labor Market Data Sources for Targeting Services to Special Populations.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2014
• Author(s): Kisha Bird, Marcie Foster, and Evelyn Ganzglass
• Organizational Author(s): Center for Law and Social Policy
• Posted by: Damon Jones
• Posted in: LMI Central