Massachusetts report recommends tracking workforce program results for longer

The report recommends that two workforce agencies study whether they can track workers’ wages for longer after people leave their programs. The recommendation covers programs reviewed at the MassHire Department of Career Services and Commonwealth Corporation. The agencies would work with Massachusetts’ unemployment agency and the U.S. Department of Labor to assess whether longer tracking is possible. MassHire’s career services agency now tracks wages for four quarters after exit, while Commonwealth Corporation gets up to eight. The suggested goal is at least 12 quarters for both.

The report recommends better job records, links between spending and results, and possible comparisons with people who did not enroll. These recommendations cover the state labor office, the two workforce agencies, and groups that run training programs. Each agency would connect its own spending and results systems or make them exchange data. Comparing participants with people who did not enroll would depend on exploring a data-sharing agreement with Massachusetts’ unemployment agency.