Study Details | Pathways to Work

25158-Study of Accelerated

Study quality: High

High

Reason for the rating: This study received a high study quality rating because it is a randomized controlled trial with low attrition, suggesting the findings can be attributed to the program.

Program: Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM) program

Characteristics of study participants:

At least a high school diploma or equivalent

Services provided:

Case management, Job Readiness and Placement Activities, Occupational or sectoral training, Supportive services, Work and Work-Based Approaches

Setting: Tested in multiple settings

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 1.0

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Study design

Design:

Randomized controlled trial

Study group formation:

Applicants could participate in the study if they were eligible for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult or Dislocated Worker Programs, had reading and math proficiency at the 6th-grade level, had English proficiency, and passed a drug screening test. People were prioritized for the program if they had reading scores at or above the 6th-grade level and math scores at the 9th-grade level, had interest in the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute assessment, and agreed to undergo a background check. Authors randomly assigned eligible people to the program group or the comparison group. A total of 745 people were randomly assigned with a 70 percent probability to the program group and a 30 percent probability to the comparison group. Seven people were removed because of ineligibility or because they dropped out of the study, for a total of 514 in the program group and 224 in the comparison group.

Time period of study:

People were randomly assigned to receive services from October 2013 to July 2015 and were followed for up to two years after random assignment.

Primary outcome domains examined:

Increase education and training

Other outcome domains examined:

Enrollment in occupational skills training

Study funded by:

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity funded the study.

Results

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Outcome domain	Measure	Timing	Study quality by finding	Comparison group mean	Program group mean	Impact	Units	Findings	Sample size
Increase education and training	Earned a certificate from a training program	Completion of training	High	21.00	76.10	55.10	Percentage points		738

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.

Means are not displayed when not reported or not aligned with the impact estimates. For example, if the impact estimate is regression-adjusted but only unadjusted means are reported in the study, the unadjusted means are not displayed as they are not aligned with the adjusted impact estimate.

Impact estimates are not shown when the estimate units cannot be converted to natural units.

Findings quality key:

High
Moderate

Study quality terms?

The findings quality describe our confidence that a given study’s finding is because of the program. We do not display findings that rate low.

Findings key:

A moderate-to-large favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large favorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small favorable finding that might be due to chance
A favorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A favorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A moderate-to-large unfavorable finding that might to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance
A small unfavorable finding that might be due to chance
An unfavorable finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
An unfavorable finding that might be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size
A finding that is unlikely to be due to chance, but we cannot determine the standardized effect size or direction
A finding of no effect that might be due to chance

Favorable findings are impacts in a direction that is socially desirable. Statistical significance indicates the likelihood that a study finding is due to the program, rather than due to chance. Findings are described as moderate-to-large if the program produced a sufficiently large change in the outcome. An impact receives this designation if the standardized effect size is equal to or greater than 0.25 or equal to or less than -0.25.

Sample characteristics

Most of the people assigned to the program condition were male (80 percent), and the majority were White (72 percent). About one-third had a criminal record (35 percent), and about half had previously been employed in manufacturing (56 percent). Almost all people in the program condition had a high school diploma or GED (98 percent).

Age

Mean age

40 years

Sex

Male

80%

Race and ethnicity

White

72%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

Employment and public benefit status

Were employed

52%

Education

Had some postsecondary education	42%
Had a high school diploma or GED	98%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	2%
English learners	2%

Specific employment barriers

Had a disability	4%
Had a substance abuse disorder	3%
Were involved with the justice system	35%
Were experiencing homelessness	3%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Program history:

The program was created to prepare workers for WIA services.

Program services:

The program served workers who were eligible for the WIA Adult or Dislocated Worker Programs. People participating in the ATIM program received basic skills training, occupational training focused on manufacturing and leading to stackable credentials, work-based learning opportunities (such as internships, on-the-job-training, and job shadowing), assistance with developing personalized training and employment plans, and case management. ATIM connected people to trainings at community colleges and other training centers focused on machining, welding, mechatronics, and logistics and assembly.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

Comparison group members were allowed to enroll in and receive training funded by WIA, including on-the-job training opportunities, funds for occupational training, a work readiness training, and case management.

Service receipt duration:

The median time between random assignment and completion of a training program was five months. For all people assigned to the program condition, follow-up services were provided through the end of 2015.

Program funding:

Workforce Innovation Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration

Cost information:

The average cost of providing the intervention was $9,770 per participant. The average cost of providing comparison group services was $2,554 per person. The net intervention cost, or difference between the two, was $7,216 per person. This represents how much more it cost to provide intervention services compared to comparison services.

These figures are based on cost information reported by study authors. The Pathways to Work converted that information to a single amount expressed in 2024 dollars; for details, see the FAQ. This information is not an official price tag or guarantee.

Study publications

Betesh, Hannah, Deborah Kogan, Laura Aron, David Mitnick, Brandon Nicholson, and Castle Sinicrope (2015). Designing and implementing sector-specific career pathways initiatives: Lessons from the implementation of the Advanced Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM) Program, Oakland, CA: Social Policy Research Associates.

Betesh, Hannah, Hui Kim, Deborah Kogan, Rachel Lindy, and Anne Paprocki (2017). Evaluation of Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM): Impact report, Oakland, CA: Social Policy Research Associates.

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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.

Study of Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM) Program