Project Working Mom:
Putting Education to Work

"Overview. In order to address the barriers that employed low wage workers face in attaining skills training and education, the New Jersey Department of Labor piloted an innovative workforce development program in which single working poor mothers received skills training via online learning in their homes. The results of this program have been impressive. There was a very high retention rate in the program, with 92% (117) of the 128 participants completing the program. In addition, the participants in the program experienced an average annual wage increase of 14 percent, and several of the participants enrolled in other educational programs (such as community college and college program). Perhaps most importantly, all the women emphatically reported that they would not have been able to complete a training program if it were not available at home. We believe that flexible training programs, such as those offered by using online learning, not only provide access to computers and the Internet in low-income homes, but also offers opportunities to upgrade skills to a population that is often excluded from such training."

Source: Dr. Mary Gatta, Director, Workforce Policy and Research, Center for Women and Work