Labor
Synopsis. EconSys has project experience in numerous areas of the Department of Labor, including Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA), Employment Training Administration (ETA), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Office of Workers Compensation Program (OWCP), and Women’s Bureau (WB).
Department of Labor
BLS Survey Questionnaire for People with Disabilities in the Labor Market. In a joint project for BLS, ODEP, and OWCP, EconSys worked with a panel of subject matter experts to develop survey instruments for collecting data from people with disabilities who participate in the civilian labor market.
EBSA Employer Choice of Retirement Program. EconSys developed and analyzed multivariate statistical models to understand factors affecting employer choices and trends of participation in defined retirement benefit programs versus contribution plans (401k plans).
EBSA Administrative Fees for 401k Plans. EconSys conducted research on the administrative fees paid by individuals who participate in 401k plans.
ETA Apprenticeship Training Programs. EconSys conducted research on various features and benefits of ETA apprenticeship training programs offered to women.
Continued...
ODEP Employment First. EconSys has supported the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) for many years including the recruitment of national subject matter experts; creating and expanding the recruitment of the Community of Practice (CoP) to 34+ states; providing intensive technical assistance training to states; and delivering policy papers. With our support, the list of EFSLMP CoP subscribers has grown to over 1,000.
ODEP Quantitative Analysis of Employment of People with Disabilities. EconSys analyzed the feasibility of placement goals for people with disabilities under Section 503 regulations, using the Executive Order 11246 regulations as a model.
ODEP Training. EconSys developed cloud-based training for Selective Placement Program Coordinators (SPPC) and Disability Program Managers (DPM) in the Federal Government.
OWCP Return to Work. In a joint project for OWCP and ODEP, EconSys researched best practices for return to work for people with disabilities in the Federal Government.
WB Progress of African American Women in the U.S. Labor Force.
Problem: African American women have lower levels of employment and pay compared to other races and genders. EconSys was contracted by the Women’s Bureau to study the historical trends of employment for African American women to develop more effective policies and pathways to better employment outcomes.
Our Study Design: The study reviewed data and literature from 1920 through 2009 to identify the socioeconomic trends that have occurred for African American women. EconSys analyzed the occupational trends, labor force status, socioeconomic and earning trends, and other factors that have affected the progress of African American women in the workplace.
Results: EconSys provided WB with a full report on the findings of the study, as well as a list of potential actions to take to strengthen the position of African American women in the workforce. EconSys prepared fact sheets focusing on the earnings gap, unemployment and poverty, educational trends, and occupational trends, and provided ad hoc and final briefings.
WB Agile Development of Labor Statistics Widget.
WB Agile Development of Labor Statistics Widget. EconSys developed innovative technology to create, update, and share key monthly data updates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) more efficiently. This technology replaced manual charts that were created individually each month.
Problem: The Women’s Bureau wanted a better way to display monthly workforce data for key outcomes regarding women workers.
Our Study Design: EconSys identified the key metrics that needed to be displayed and where that data resided. Our team designed an online widget to display the data and be updated on a regular basis.
Results: The project resulted in a real time display being included on the Women’s Bureau website to update on the labor force status of women. The widget can be found here: DOL Women’s Bureau Labor Statistics Widget
WB Identifying Better Jobs and Pathways for Low Wage Immigrant Women Workers (IWW).
Problem: Immigrant women workers face a number of barriers to employment in the United States. EconSys was contracted by the Women’s Bureau to identify and address the barriers that immigrant and refugee women workers face in moving out of low-wage jobs and into middle-income jobs that are more secure.
Our Study Design: To understand the barriers to employment, our team conducted a thorough literature review which had several shortcomings. To analyze the place of immigrant women workers, the study includes analyses of American Community Survey data to compare the background and circumstances, including occupations and earnings of IWW and low wage IWW to native women, immigrant men and native men. This analysis contributed a statistical basis for identifying barriers to upward mobility for IWW and lay the groundwork by identifying the types of occupations that are held by the comparison groups.
Results: This two-year project identified the top occupations currently being filled by immigrant women, analyzed the skillsets leveraged in these positions, and mapped them to higher-paying occupations that required little additional education. Finally, the team developed a roadmap for each target occupation with examples of how immigrant women could move into these high-paying occupations.
