Creating Pathways to Advancement: A Manual for Project Developers

Developed by Jobs for the Future (JFF), "Pathways to Advancement" exemplifies a growing field of practice in career ladders and low-skilled worker advancement models. The Pathways model presents a framework for providing publicly funded employment and training services that meet the needs of employers, job seekers, and incumbent workers---particularly those in low-wage, low-skill jobs. Through its initial demonstration in Seattle, "Pathways to Advancement" proved to be an effective strategy for fundamentally changing the way the public workforce development system operates. Jobs for the Future prepared "Creating Pathways to Advancement" as a guide for Workforce Development Councils and Workforce Investment Boards interested in replicating Seattle's Pathways to Advancement strategy. Based on the experience of two pilot projects, JFF identified lessons about implementing models designed to help: low-wage workers advance to higher-wage, higher-skill jobs; other low-income populations to fill the resulting job openings; and help employers to meet their need for skilled workers. These lessons have implications for the "Pathways to Advancement" model and its use by others in the future. "Pathways to Advancement" is a promising model for building strong relationships between the workforce development system and employers, while creating opportunities for those at the lowest end of the labor market. The following are appended: (1) Pathways to Advancement Pilot: The Lessons Learned; and (2) Sample Memorandum of Understanding.