Strong skills are critical for success in the labor market and overall self-sufficiency. Yet, many low-income Americans lack the skills needed to obtain employment in the U.S. labor market. Moreover, as the skills needed for today’s jobs change, it is especially important to consider opportunities to promote skill-building among low-income individuals. This panel discussion, moderated by Paige Shevlin (Executive Office of the President), will aim to answer the question of how to increase skills for low-income Americans and move them into better jobs. Beginning with findings from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies Survey of Adult Skills, the panelists will discuss the implications of these findings for the American workforce, emerging approaches to address the earnings and skills gaps, and the potential use of apprenticeships as a tool to improve skills. Panelists are:

• Johan Uvin (U.S. Department of Education)

• Harry Holzer (Georgetown University and American Institutes for Research)

• Robert Lerman (American University and The Urban Institute) (conference program description)

This presentation was given at the 2014 Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference (WREC).