Skills to Live By: Participant Reflections on the Value of their Sectoral Training Experience

This resource describes the third phase of a sectoral approach (targeting high priority industry clusters and related jobs) to education and training for low income and low-skilled individuals, especially to identify the successes and challenges they have faced participating and remaining in the labor market four years after training. 26 participants from three different programs were interviewed (individually and in focus groups). The study illuminates how the training influenced participants' employment path and how other life experiences have played a role. These honest, poignant experiences, successes, and challenges are heard through the participants' voices and the authors' interpretations of what they heard in the study.

Three significant themes emerged. First, participants strongly believed that acquiring the technical job skills increased their confidence and made them more employable. However, the participants repeatedly said that it was the soft skills-communication, conflict resolution, body language, self-confidence-that changed their ability to succeed in the system. Second, support systems were reported by all respondents as crucial to their ability to succeed in the training program. They mentioned informal peer networks and study groups, counseling services financial support, and child care assistance. Respondents also mentioned the beneficial aspects of how the program helped them to identify and address personal barriers to success. The third significant theme was that the participants had specific goals for work and employment and understood how the program would help them meet those goals. The realistic, hands-on learning environment in their program was described again and again as critical for providing the motivation to succeed and real-life experiences to build confidence and compete successfully for jobs.

Although the sample size was small, the authors emphasize that the study reveals the challenges low-income and low-skilled individuals continue to face even after successful education and training. These implications are relevant for practitioners and providers, workforce development system building, and policy makers. In addition, the participants' experiences can provide poignant readings and discussions for students who have similar needs and issues in adult education and training programs.