Portland JOBS Training Program

JOBS, which operated in Portland, Oregon in the mid to late 1990s, was a mandatory welfare-to work program for single-parent welfare recipients whose children were over one year in age. Two central features of Portland JOBS that distinguish it from other welfare-to-work programs are: (i) the program placed participants deemed to be job-ready in structured job search services, and those with little work experience or education in short-term education/training to improve their employability; and (ii) staff encouraged participants to take high quality, stable jobs (i.e., jobs paying 25% or more above minimum wage, with benefits and potential for advancement), even if it meant turning down lower quality jobs.

The program’s main focus was on moving welfare recipients quickly into the workforce.

There was a sizable increase in employment rates and job earnings, reduction in welfare dependency, and savings to the government.

There were 25% higher annual job earnings per person at the 5-year follow-up. There was also 23% lower annual receipt of welfare payments, 21% more time employed, and 11% lower annual receipt of food stamps. Due to these savings, the government saved $2.89 for every $1.00 it invested in the program.