Committee on Ways and Means
 Subcommittee on Human Resources

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
February 28, 2002

“Work First” Works Best

Major Study Finds “Work First” Approach of 1996 Welfare Reforms More Effective than “Education-Only” Alternatives

WASHINGTON, DC - A recent report by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) shows “work first” approaches -- central to the successful 1996 welfare reform law --are more effective than efforts focused on education.

MDRC’s report, completed under contract with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the result of a 12-year evaluation of welfare reform strategies in 6 states and 10 counties, known as the National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies. This is the most comprehensive look at welfare reform to date.

Through an assessment of 11 mandatory welfare-to-work programs, the study searched for answers to the question, “What is the best strategy to move people from welfare into work?”

In response to these findings, Chairman Wally Herger (R-CA) of the Subcommittee on Human Resources stated, “Given such clear results, it is puzzling that anyone would push to replace the successful work-first approach with costly education programs disconnected from work."

"This study confirms that work or work combined with short-term training is the most effective approach for helping people achieve independence and support their families,” Herger added. "Work will be the fundamental emphasis of our legislation to reauthorize welfare reform this year."

Key Findings:
  • Work-first led to more work, more earnings, and less welfare: “[Employment-focused programs] generally had larger effects on employment, earnings, and welfare receipt than [education-focused programs].” (page ES-2)
  • Work-first got people into jobs faster, in keeping with reform goals: “The LFA [work-first] approach moved welfare recipients into jobs more quickly than did the HCD approach - a clear advantage when federally funded welfare months are time-limited.” (page ES-2)
  • There is no evidence to support claims that only more education and training will lead to higher wages for welfare recipients over the long run: “It was found that the HCD [education-focused] approach did not produce added economic benefits relative to the LFA [work first] approach.” (page ES-2)
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    For more information on the MDRC report, visit http://www.mdrc.org

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