On April 7, 2025, Director of Research and Policy Emilia Calma testified before D.C. Council’s Committee on Executive Administration and Labor at the Public Roundtable on Job Training and Workforce Development. Her testimony focused on the disparities in outcomes for those born in D.C. and those who move to D.C. as adults and the need to focus workforce development efforts on narrowing those gaps. Read the full testimony below or download a PDF copy.
Good morning, Chairperson Bonds, and members of the Committee. My name is Emilia Calma, and I am the Director of Research and Policy of the D.C. Policy Center—an independent non-partisan think tank advancing policies for a strong, competitive, and vibrant District of Columbia. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on improving job training and placement programs in D.C.
The District offers many job training and placement initiatives which allow employers to mentor and hire candidates as they gain proficiency in specific skills. While these programs provide valuable opportunities, there is a need for comprehensive evaluation to assess their impact on long-term employment outcomes and wage growth.
The Workforce Investment Council tries to do this. Each year, they publish an “Expenditure Guide” that details 85 job training and placement programs and over 500 different types of activities across 24 agencies, costing $208.6 million (data for FY 2023). The analysis, though missing some data, shows that of the 67,000 residents that participated, 74 percent completed programs. However, only 4,180 participants (6 percent) found jobs. Further, 39 percent of the government funded opportunities offer credentialing, but only 2,559 participants earned credentials. There is also no systematic tracking of the life and career outcomes of participants including long term employment and wage and salary earnings.[1]
Despite an increase in job openings since the Great Recession, many unemployed D.C. residents continue to struggle with securing employment. This suggests a mismatch between the skills offered by job seekers and those demanded by employers, underscoring the necessity for training programs that are closely aligned with current labor market needs.[2]
Disparities in D.C.’s workforce:
The D.C. Policy Center has been keenly focused on life outcomes of residents born and raised in D.C. Our research has found persistent disparities in income, education, and employment outcomes between residents who were born in the District and those who moved here from elsewhere.
For example, research by our Education Policy Initiative found the following:
- Young adults[3] born in D.C. earn, on average, $37,000 less per year than their non-native peers. This wage gap is linked to the differences in job types as well as employment levels.
- The unemployment rate for D.C.-born young adults stands at 23 percent, compared to 3 percent for non-native residents.
- Educational attainment plays a key role: although most jobs in the District require at least a bachelor’s degree, only 24 percent of D.C. natives have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 77 percent of non-native residents.[4]
Early Career Outcomes for longtime D.C. residents and peers who moved to D.C. after birth as young adults
These differences affect broader labor force participation. Research on the District’s workforce by our Rivlin Initiative on Economic Policy & Competitiveness shows the following: [5]
- In 2023, 95 percent of prime working age non-native residents were in the labor force, but the same number was 80 percent for native D.C. residents—a full 15 percentage points lower, and below national norms.
- Among prime working age residents (25 to 54), labor force participation declined for those without a college degree and for non-white residents.
- Between 2010 and 2023, labor force participation declined by 9 percentage points for residents with a high school degree or less.
- Black residents consistently made up the majority of those out of the labor force, while the share of white residents out of the labor force declined.
- One third of D.C. residents who are unemployed have been jobless for over 6 months. This has primarily affected Black residents, who made up 67 percent of the unemployed and over 80 percent of those who had been unemployed for more than 6 months.
- This may be particularly prevalent among young people: over half of Black residents aged 16 to 24 were not in school, and 20 percent were not in school and not working (compared to only 5 percent of similarly aged non-black residents).[6]
These disparities highlight structural barriers to employment—barriers that go beyond individual effort and reflect deep inequities in access to quality education, good jobs, and reliable support systems, including the District’s own workforce programs. These metrics also suggest that the populations who could benefit the most from quality employment programs are not benefiting as much as they could be from District workforce programs.
Recommendations:
- Enhance data collection and transparency: Implement rigorous data collection on program participants, including employment outcomes and wage progression, to evaluate program effectiveness and inform policy decisions. The D.C. Code § 32–771 mandates quarterly reporting on job training outcomes, which should be utilized to ensure accountability.[7] While there is increased interest in what can improve employment and career outcomes, without detailed reporting on outcomes we have little information on which programs work and whether they are accessible. Information on program participants can be connected to employment outcomes through methods such as the Education through Employment Data System, the blueprint for which was created by our Education Policy Initiative.[8]
- Invest in effective training programs: Adopt training initiatives that have proven effective in increasing earnings and employment for individuals without four-year college degrees. Data on employment show that individuals without a college degree are less likely to be in the labor force, and more likely to be long-term unemployed, or unemployed for more than six months.
Survey data on early career outcomes showed that acquiring career assets—such as work-based learning, career exposure, career counseling, and employer connections—significantly boosted earnings, particularly for D.C. residents without a bachelor’s degree. Adults with associate’s degrees or certifications who gained these career assets earned an average of 64 percent more than those who did not. While the impact was most pronounced for those with associate’s degrees and certifications, acquiring career assets benefited all students, including those with bachelor’s degrees or no postsecondary education, improving their outcomes by approximately 10 percent.[9]
- Foster inclusive workforce development: Implement strategies to reduce racial disparities in workforce outcomes by ensuring equitable access to training programs and addressing systemic barriers that disproportionately affect non-white residents.[10] Consider place-based job training programs that target high-unemployment neighborhoods.[11]
- Strengthen employer partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses to design training curricula that meet current industry demands, ensuring that program graduates possess skills that are directly applicable in the job market. Additionally, ensure that job training initiatives have direct links to employers to facilitate job placement.
In conclusion, as we deliberate on the FY26 budget, it is imperative to prioritize the evaluation and enhancement of job training and placement programs. By focusing on data-driven strategies, educational support, sectoral training, inclusivity, and employer collaboration, we can build a more effective workforce development system that benefits all residents of the District.
Thank you for your attention and commitment to this critical issue. I welcome any questions you may have.
[1] Fiscal Year 2023 – Expenditure Guide (2023). DC Workforce Investment Council. https://dcworks.dc.gov/publication/fiscal-year-2023-expenditure-guide
[2] Burge, D. (2024, November 22). Chart of the week: Despite more job openings, unemployed D.C. residents struggle to secure employment. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/chart-of-the-week-despite-more-job-openings-unemployed-d-c-residents-struggle-to-secure-employment/
[3] The analysis is conducted for DC residents aged 18 to 34.
[4] Coffin, C. (2024, October 24). Strengthening work-based learning is necessary to improve early career outcomes. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/strengthening-work-based-learning-is-necessary-to-improve-early-career-outcomes/
[5] Burge, D. (2024, December 5). Labor force participation in the District of Columbia: Six key facts you need to know. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/labor-force-participation-in-the-district-of-columbia-six-key-facts-you-need-to-know/
[6] Burge, D. (2024, July 12). Long-term unemployment in the District of Columbia: What it means, how it has changed, and whom it affects. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/long-term-unemployment-in-the-district-of-columbia/
[7] D.C. Code § 32–771. Department of Employment Services quarterly reports on job training and adult education programs. | D.C. Law Library. (2025). https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/32-771
[8] Coffin, C., & Rubin, J. (2021, November 17). Measuring early career outcomes in D.C. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/measuring-outcomes/
[9] Calma, E. (2021, November 10). D.C. high school alumni reflections on their early career outcomes. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/early-career-brief/
Coffin, C., & Mason, H. (2024, November 13). Building career assets for lifelong success. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/building-career-assets-for-lifelong-success/
[10] Nalley, J. (2024). Policy Strategies to Improve Job Quality for Black Workers in Sector Partnership Programs. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. https://jointcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Policy-Strategies-to-Improve-Job-Quality-for-Black-Workers-in-Sector-Partnership-Programs.pdf
Rodgers III, W., & Chalise, N. (2023, May 24). Barriers to Participation in the Labor Force: A Primer. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/bridges/2023/vol2/primer-barriers-participation-labor-force
[11] Bartik, Timothy J. 2020. “Using Place-Based Jobs Policies to Help Distressed Communities.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 34 (3): 99–127. DOI:10.1257/jep.34.3.99
Rodríguez, S. T. (2021, January 19). Place-Based Workforce Development Strategies Can Support an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/place-based-workforce-development-strategies-can-support-equitable-covid-19-recovery