Job Search or Basic Education Participation First: Which Improves Welfare Recipients’ Earnings More in the Long Term?

This brief from MDRC examines whether quick employment or basic education and training better improves economic well-being of TANF participants. The authors present findings from three sites that took part in the National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies study. Overall, the findings suggest that both types of welfare-to-work programs can increase earnings, compared with not offering such services.