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What are Good Jobs for ABE Learners and How Can They Get Them?. Jonathan Latner Research and Evaluation Analyst 617-727-8158 jlatner@commcorp.org Lisa Soricone Senior Research and Evaluation Analyst 617-727-8158 lsoricone@commcorp.org. Who are ABE Learners in the workforce?.
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What are Good Jobs for ABE Learners and How Can They Get Them? Jonathan Latner Research and Evaluation Analyst 617-727-8158 jlatner@commcorp.org Lisa Soricone Senior Research and Evaluation Analyst 617-727-8158 lsoricone@commcorp.org
Who are ABE Learners in the workforce? • English Language Learners (ELL) • 16 years of age and older • Does not speak English well or at all • Not enrolled in school • Limited Educational Attainment (LEA) • 16 years of age and older • Not enrolled in school • No high school diploma • Not ELL
% of Massachusetts Workforce who are ELL or LEP 1) Number of ELL learners has declined by 51% 2) Number of LEP learners has risen by 79% 3) ELL & LEP Workers Account for 8% of the MA Workforce in 2007 (down from 12% in 1990) Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are active participants in the labor force (employed or unemployed) Source:Analysis of 1990 Census and 2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS
Industrial Distribution of ABE Workforce in MA • Red Line indicates Massachusetts Average • LEA/LEP Workers are spread across a wide variety of industries Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS
Industrial Distribution of ABE Workforce by Average Salary of Sector in MA • Red line indicates Massachusetts Average • Industries with a high proportion of ABE workers have average salaries that are below the state average Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS
Selected Occupations with High Numbers of ABE Workers in MA Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS
Occupational/Industry Crosswalk of 7 Occupations with high numbers of ABE Workers in MA • These occupations work in a wide variety of industries 2006 Employment Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Note: Rows and Columns do not always add up to 100% because some sectors with small proportion of workers are not included Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS
Occupational/Industry Crosswalk of 7 Occupations with high numbers of ABE Workers in MA • The industries with the highest concentrations of these occupations are not necessarily those that pay the most for that particular occupation • Which industries do these occupations receive a “wage bonus?” 2006 Average Salary Note: working age population (16 – 65) who are employed Source:2007 American Community Survey using IPUMS
So, how do you find these industries? • Use your networks • Gain a better understanding of the skills you have and how they may be applied in other areas • Don’t underestimate the possibility of success even in “low-wage” sectors like retail.
Things to Remember • As hard as the struggle is, evidence suggests that individuals do improve wages over their own personal lifetimes • Improved wages is not about staying with one employer or constantly switching from employer to employer, but about finding “good” employers and staying • “Good” employers are large, have lots of job openings, pay more for the same occupation, and have a strong culture of promoting from within