Outcome Domains

The Pathways to Work reports on changes in outcomes that a program is expected to have. Outcome domains are groups of related outcomes.

Short-term outcomes are those measured 18 months or fewer after participants are first offered services. Long-term outcomes are those measured between 18 months and 5 years after participants are first offered services. Very long-term outcomes are those measured 5 years or more after participants are first offered services.

Short-term earnings

An increase in the amount earned through paid employment during a period 18 months or fewer after the participant first received program services.

Long-term earnings

An increase in the amount earned through paid employment between 18 months and 5 years after the participant first received program services.

Short-term employment

An increase in the rate of employment during a period 18 months or fewer after the participant first received program services.

Long-term employment

An increase in the rate of employment between 18 months and 5 years after the participant first received program services.

Short-term public benefit receipt

Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits (such as TANF, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and so on) or the value of their benefits during a period 18 months or fewer after the participant first received program services.

Long-term public benefit receipt

Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits or the value of their benefits between 18 months and 5 years after participants are offered program services.

Education and training (outcome)

Attainment of a degree or credential.

Very long-term earnings

An increase in the amount earned through paid employment more than 5 years after the participant first received program services.

Very long-term employment

An increase in the rate of employment more than 5 years after the participant first received program services.

Very long-term benefit receipt

Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits or the value of their benefits more than 5 years after participants are offered program services.

VIEW GLOSSARY

The effectiveness rating indicates whether the program is likely to produce favorable results if faithfully replicated with a similar population.

Well-supported

We have strong and consistent evidence that the program produces favorable results for a specific outcome, such as short-term earnings. Well-supported programs have at least two impact studies of moderate or high quality that show evidence of statistically significant and favorable findings within the outcome.

Supported

We have some evidence that the program produces favorable results for a given outcome. Supported programs have at least one study of moderate or high quality that shows evidence of statistically significant and favorable findings within the outcome, but the evidence is less conclusive than that for well-supported programs.

Not supported

We have evidence from impact studies of moderate or high quality that the program is unlikely to improve a given outcome. Studies of these programs have found only a pattern of null and/or unfavorable findings.

Mixed support

We have some evidence from impact studies of moderate or high quality that indicates the program improves a given outcome, and some evidence that indicates it worsens that outcome.

Insufficient evidence to assess support

We have evidence from a single impact study of moderate or high quality that studied the program’s effect on a given outcome, but the effect was not statistically significant.

Cannot assess support

We did not find any studies of moderate or high quality that studied the program’s effect on a given outcome. These programs require further study to support conclusions about their effectiveness.

VIEW GLOSSARY

The Pathways to Work reports on changes in outcomes that a program is expected to have. Outcome domains are groups of related outcomes. The Pathways to Work includes the following domains: 

  • Increase earnings — An increase in the amount earned through paid employment after the participant first received program services.
  • Increase employment — An increase in the rate of employment after the participant first received program services.
  • Decrease benefit receipt — Reduction in the percentage of people receiving public benefits or the value of their benefits after participants are offered program services.
  • Increase education and training — Attainment of a degree or credential.

Short-term outcomes are those measured 18 months or fewer after participants are first offered services. Long-term outcomes are those measured between 18 months and 5 years after participants are first offered services. Very long-term outcomes are those measured 5 years or more after participants are first offered services.

The effectiveness rating indicates whether the program is likely to produce favorable results if faithfully replicated with a similar population. Please see the Effectiveness rating key found below the table for more information.

Effects shown are the estimated changes in the percent of low-income adults who are employed, average annual earnings, average annual public benefits received, and percent of low-income adults with any education and training credential.

We estimate comparable effects in 2024 dollars and percentages by calculating the average impact of the program in standard deviation units (Hedges’ g effect sizes) across outcomes and studies and comparing that average to the distributions of outcomes for adults with low earnings potential in the 2019 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

View the glossary for more information about these and other terms used on this page.