Research From the Field

JOTF is pleased to bring you the latest research from organizations whose work pertains directly to our program areas and issues of interest. For publications and resources more generally related to the workforce and the economy, visit our New Reports page.

Baltimore Workforce Investment Board Research

Created under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board (BWIB) seeks to "build a world class workforce development system that drives and supports the local economy." JOTF participates on the BWIB board and committees.

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Baltimore's Workforce System at Work - Executive Summary (MS Word Doc)
Released by BWIB in June 2004, this report is the first in-depth study of who is using Baltimore’s WIA- and Individual Training Account-funded workforce training programs; the programs’ levels of success; and how they measure up against initiatives in other comparable cities.

Top 25 Occupations for Baltimore City (MS Word Doc)
The winter 2002 edition of BWIB's newsletter, The Workforce Exchange, includes research showing Baltimore's top 25 occupations, based on annual openings.

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Offender Re-Entry and Employment

Baltimore Citywide Ex-offender Task Force 2003 Report (PDF File)
In 2003, Baltimore City Ex-offender Task Force (EOTF), released a report that includes key findings and recommendations to improve re-entry outcomes for ex-offenders who return to Baltimore City.

For more information, contact Project Manager Felix Mata at (410) 398-7336 or via email at fmata@oedworks.com.

The Hidden Costs Of Incarceration And Reentry - Urban Institute (PDF File)
In October 2003 the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center released a policy brief focused on the hidden costs of U.S. criminal justice policies. With incarceration rates in America at record high levels, the criminal justice system now touches the lives of millions of children each year.

Evaluation of the YES NetWORK (UM Bureau of Governmental Research)
The University of Maryland’s Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) is conducting an evaluation of the Your Employment for Success (YES) NetWORK, a comprehensive effort to address the employment skills and careers of offenders. On August 29, 2002 BGR Director Dr. Faye Taxman presented the preliminary findings of the evaluation to the Job Opportunities Task Force.

• Read the preliminary findings (PowerPoint presentation)

For more information about the YES Network, click here or call 301-403-4403

Three-State Recidivism Study - Correctional Education Association (PDF File)
Correctional education and vocational programs play an important role in reducing the rate at which ex-offenders return to prison following their release. In September 2001, the Correctional Education Association released a study of prisons in three states - Maryland, Minnesota, and Ohio - showing that inmate participation in educational and vocational training results in a significant decrease in recidivism.

For further information, visit the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services and the Maryland State Department of Education websites.

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Working Poor Families Project

In October 2004, the Working Poor Families Project released "“Working Hard, Falling Short: America’s Working Families and the Pursuit of Economic Security.” This report provides a groundbreaking new look at the nation’s low-income working families and the efforts of state governments to help them develop financial security. The findings of the national report dovetail with those in a 2003 report produced by the Job Opportunities Task Force, “Connecting Low-Income Families to Good Jobs,” which highlighted the conditions and challenges facing low-income working families in Maryland.

Click here to read "Working Hard, Falling Short."

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