The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State (Clearinghouse) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to evaluate two innovative employment programs aimed at reducing underemployment among military veterans.
According to the Veterans Metrics Initiative (TVMI), nearly 60% of veterans report feeling underemployed after they transition to civilian life. To help address this widespread challenge, the Clearinghouse will lead a three-year initiative, with funding distributed over the first two years. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of skills-based training and digital credentialing programs offered by Hire Heroes USA (HHUSA) and the Manufacturing Institute (MI). The goal is to determine whether these programs help veterans achieve employment that aligns with their military-acquired skills and long-term career goals.
"Underemployment is a growing challenge for veterans entering today's fast-evolving labor market," said Daniel F. Perkins, principal scientist at the Clearinghouse, a Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty and professor of family and youth resiliency and policy in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "This project will allow us to examine whether digital credentialing and skills-focused efforts can offer veterans a pathway that matches their unique military-acquired skills and experiences."
The project will be divided into two phases. In the first year, the Clearinghouse will lead an evaluability assessment to determine whether HHUSA's and MI's employment programs are ready for an outcome evaluation. This assessment will include stakeholder interviews, program observations and data-system reviews to ensure a rigorous foundation for future evaluation.
Depending on those results, the second phase, spanning years two and three, will launch an outcome evaluation or will focus on refining program implementation to support future effectiveness studies. Outcome measures may include post-program employment status, job satisfaction and the utility of digital credentialing in securing meaningful employment.
In addition to the outcome evaluation, the project includes a wide-ranging dissemination effort. Findings will be shared through webinars, policy briefs, blog posts and peer-reviewed journal publications. If findings warrant, the Clearinghouse and its partners plan to host a policy symposium in Washington, D.C., to engage lawmakers in workforce-policy discussions.
"The goal is to generate actionable insights that help veteran-specific and civilian-workforce programs better prepare individuals for sustainable employment," said Katie Davenport, co-principal investigator on the project and assistant research professor at the Clearinghouse. "By identifying which elements of skills-based training and digital credentialing are most effective, we can support organizations in tailoring their services to better align with participants' strengths and the evolving demands of the workforce."
While the primary focus is on veterans, according to the researchers, findings from this study could have broader implications for strengthening the nation's workforce. As the labor market continues to evolve due to automation, shifting employer needs and economic uncertainty, skills-based employment pathways may offer scalable strategies to promote workforce resilience and reduce underemployment for all working-age adults, including recent graduates and displaced workers.
"At Walmart, we recognize that a thriving workforce is one that's inclusive, skilled and prepared for the future," said Sean Murphy, director of opportunity at Walmart.org. "This research has the potential to shape how organizations and employers support veterans and other job seekers in building meaningful, lasting careers."
This evaluation is part of the Clearinghouse's broader mission to improve the well-being of service members, veterans and their families through applied research, program development and evaluation. This effort fits within the Clearinghouse's VETeran Evaluation and Research Applications Network, which brings together veteran-focused funders and researchers to improve the reintegration experience for post-9/11 veterans.
To learn more about the Clearinghouse and its ongoing efforts to support veterans and military families, visit militaryfamilies.psu.edu.
