What Works for Whom?

Abstract

This article presents estimates of program-induced, post-program earnings gains for men and women who enrolled in CETA between January 1975 and June 1976. Data for the analysis were obtained from the Continuous Longitudinal Manpower Survey for CETA participants with corresponding comparison group information for respondents from the March 1976 Current Population Survey. Although subject to methodological limitations, the findings suggest that CETA-sponsored classroom training, on-the-job training, and subsidized work experience noticeably increased the future earnings of female participants, but had virtually no impact for men. Impacts for women were roughly the same for all three program activities and were due primarily to increased employment rather than increased wage rates.