What works to help middle- and high-skilled individuals return to work after a lengthy period of unemployment? Abt’s evaluation of the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Ready to Work Partnership grants seeks answers to this question.

Following the deep recession of 2008-2009, DOL awarded 24 grants to improve the employment prospects of the long-term unemployed. We discuss findings from the evaluation’s early implementation study in this report.

In partnership with MEF Associates, we report that these programs provide job readiness worskhops, one-on-one job search assistance, access to occupational and work-based training, and mental health and financial counseling tailored to the specific needs of the long-term unemployed. Future reports will examine the program’s effect on participant’s education and economic outcomes.