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The Portland version of JOBS, a national program model enacted through the Family Support Act of 1988 to support Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients in finding employment, focused on moving individuals rapidly into employment, while also encouraging participants to search for higher-paying jobs that provided benefits.

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The Portland version of JOBS, a national program model enacted through the Family Support Act of 1988 to support Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients in finding employment, focused on moving individuals rapidly into employment, while also encouraging participants to search for higher-paying jobs that provided benefits.

Although some participants were first referred to short-term training and education programs, most were initially assigned to a job club for 30 hours per week, followed by a job search (during which they were required to contact 20 employers per week). Participants also had access to a job developer; life skills and vocational training; secondary and postsecondary education; and supportive services, such as child care and transportation. Case managers intensively monitored participants’ activities and could sanction individuals by reducing their benefits. Job clubs lasted for two weeks, and intensive job search activities lasted for six weeks; the average participant engaged in JOBS activities for 5.2 months. Participants were single-parent AFDC recipients. The intervention was implemented in Portland, OR. 

Year evaluation began: 1993
Implementing organization(s): Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies in Portland, OR
Populations and employment barriers: Parents, Single parents
Intervention services: Case management, Education, Sanctions, Supportive services, Training, Occupational or sectoral training, Soft skills training, Work experience, Job search assistance, Job development/job placement
Setting(s): Urban only

Effectiveness Rating and Effect By Outcome Domain

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Outcome domain Term Effectiveness rating Effect in 2018 dollars and percentages Effect in standard deviations Sample size
Increase earnings Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable $1,652 per year 0.08 4028
Long-term Supported favorable $2,050 per year 0.10 4028
Very long-term No evidence to assess support
Increase employment Short-term Supported favorable 7% (in percentage points) 0.18 4028
Long-term Supported favorable 3% (in percentage points) 0.08 4028
Very long-term No evidence to assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Supported favorable $-462 per year -0.17 4028
Long-term Supported favorable $-523 per year -0.19 4028
Very long-term No evidence to assess support
Increase education and training All measurement periods No evidence to assess support
* This intervention was assessed as supported for this domain, meaning it achieved one or more statistically significant, favorable effects. However, the intervention has an average effect size that is unfavorable because the average includes all effects in this domain - both statistically significant and favorable effects and statistically insignificant but unfavorable effects.

Effectiveness rating key:

  • Well-supported Well-supported   
  • Supported  Supported   
  • Not supported  Not supported   
  • Mixed support  Mixed support   
  • Insufficient evidence  Insufficient evidence   
  • No evidence  No evidence
Effectiveness rating terms?

Studies of this Intervention

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Study Quality Rating Study Counts per Rating
High High 1