Rethinking Workforce Development: Flexible Educational and Skills Training Options for the Working Poor.

The working poor represent a growing portion of the American laborforce. While some of these workers are former TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) recipients who have ?timed out? of welfare benefits, many have never been on the country?s welfare rolls. These workers lack social supports such as healthcare, childcare and reliable transportation, and lack access to training and educational opportunities to improve their lives. As a result then although the working poor barely survive economically they have fallen from our country?s radar screen. Clearly a new perspective on welfare reform and workforce development needs to be advanced that takes into account the needs of the working poor. This paper presents findings from a New Jersey initiative that attempted to address some of the needs of the working poor by piloting an innovative state program throughout the One Stop Career Centers. This program provided training and education to 128 single working mothers, all of whom earned less than 250 percent of the poverty level. The participants received computers, Internet access and online courses to improve their skills. This paper will detail some of the findings, and elucidate the importance of providing social supports and training opportunities to the working poor in new and flexible ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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