Caseworkers conducted an initial assessment interview and skills test to determine their clients’ needs and assigned clients to various activities. Clients without a high school diploma or equivalent were typically assigned to basic education classes. Clients with a high school diploma or equivalent and little work experience were typically assigned to a Community Work Experience Program. Clients with both a high school diploma or equivalent and work experience were typically assigned to a job club for intensive job search. Caseworkers had substantial discretion in making assignments, however, and often placed a client in other activities or never gave a client any assignment. Clients assigned to an activity were required to participate for at least 20 hours per week; noncompliance could result in reductions in benefits. Typical lengths of placements were 8.5 months for basic education, 5.2 months for a Community Work Experience Program, 1.7 months for job clubs, 8.8 months for postsecondary education, 5.2 months for job skills training, and 4.1 months for job-readiness training. Participants were AFDC recipients not exempt from participation in welfare-to-work activities. The Ohio JOBS program was implemented statewide and evaluated in 15 counties.
Summary
Ohio’s version of JOBS, a national program model enacted through the Family Support Act of 1988 to support Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients in finding employment, used an assessment-based approach in which caseworkers had discretion in placing clients into activities.
Studies of this program
| Study quality rating | Study counts per rating |
|---|---|
 Low
|
1 |
Program cost
No cost information available.
Cost results
| Estimate (in 2024 dollars) | Quality of cost analysis that produced the estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual program cost, per participant * | $1,722 |
Acceptable quality
|
| Annual net benefit to participants, per participant | -$209 |
Good quality
|
* See below for further details on the cost analysis.
Cost information
How much did the program cost per participant?
The average annual program cost per participant was $1,722 in 2024 dollars. This figure is based on cost information for this program reported in one cost study reviewed by Pathways to Work (for details, see the FAQ). The study reported a monthly average cost per participant, with all participants having at least one year of study data included (ranging from 12 to 47 months). The monthly cost was converted to an annual program cost per participant for reporting. This study received a rating of Acceptable quality for the cost analysis.
How much did the program cost relative to the benefits it generated?
A cost-benefit analysis was conducted in the cost study reviewed, receiving a rating of Good quality. The study reported a net benefit per month, with all participants having at least one year of study data (ranging from 12 to 47 months). The monthly net benefit was converted to an annual net benefit per participant for reporting. The annual net benefit to participants was -$209 per participant in 2024 dollars. This means that the annual net program benefit to participants (difference in benefits between the program and comparison group) was $209 less than the net cost of the program to participants. The estimate is expressed as the net present value, which accounts for differences in the timing of when benefits and costs occurred. In addition, the annual net benefit to government was -$811 per participant in 2024 dollars. The study broke out the annual net benefit to government into an annual net benefit to the federal government of -$478 per participant and an annual net benefit to state and local governments of -$333 per participant in 2024 dollars.
Cost information is not directly comparable across programs due to differences in the categories of costs reported and program length. Cost information is not an official price tag or guarantee.
Implementation details
State(s) where implemented
Pathways to Work refers to programs by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some program names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.