WorkFirst
| Washington’s welfare-to-work program is based on the 1996 federal
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) welfare reform legislation. The
aim of WorkFirst is to help low-income families become self-sufficient by
providing training and support services necessary for parents to get a job, keep
a job, and move up a career ladder. This study is limited to WorkFirst
participants who enrolled in an employment or training
component. |
State Core Indicator Results
Employment - Percentage of participants who were employed,
as reported in employment records during the third quarter after
leaving the program.* |
38% |
Earnings - Median annualized earnings six to nine months
after leaving the program. (Quarterly earnings are the result of hourly wage
rates and the number of hours worked in a calendar quarter. Toderive annualized
earnings, quarterly earnings are multiplied by four.) |
$12,514 |
Skills - Percentage of participants who obtained an
appropriate credential. (Percentage based on all participants, including those
who did not receive training through the program.) |
n/a** |
Participant Satisfaction - A survey was not
conducted. |
n/a |
Employer Satisfaction – A survey was not conducted. |
n/a |
Net Employment Impact - Difference between the employment
rate for all participants and the control group of non-participants, measured
nine to 12 quarters after leaving the program. |
n/a |
Net Earnings Impact - Difference between the average
annualized earnings for all participants and the control group of
non-participants, measured nine to 12 quarters after leaving the program. |
n/a |
Participant Return on Public Investment - The ratio of the
present values of additional lifetime participant earnings and employee benefits
to public costs of the program. Additional lifetime participant earnings and
benefits are additional earnings and employee benefits received (minus
participant program costs, taxes on added income, and any loss in unemployment
insurance benefits), when compared to the non-participant control group. |
n/a |
Taxpayer Return on Investment - The ratio of the present
values of projected additional lifetime taxes paid by the participant (plus any
decrease in unemployment insurance benefits), in comparison to the public costs
of the program. Additional taxes are those additional taxes projected to be
paid in comparison to the taxes projected to be paid by the non-participant
control group. Change in unemployment insurance benefits is the change in
benefits paid to participants compared to the non-participant control group. |
n/a |
* Includes some out-of-state employment data but not all of it and does
not include data on self- employment. Understates total employment by about 10 percent.
**Not available because not measured as part of this evaluation.

Employment & Earning Indicators Over Time
Employment Rate - Percent of WorkFirst Participants with Reported Employment in Third Quarter after Exiting Program

Earnings - Median Annualized Earnings of Participants in Third Quarter after Exiting Program (First Quarter 2011 dollars)

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