JDC Israel-Tevet develops programs to integrate populations of low labor-force participation into employment. Many participants did start working, but at low wages. The Kidum Program was created in 2012 to help program participants increase their wages and improve their work conditions. Staff from six existing employment programs (Afikim, Eshet Hayil, Mafteah, Strive, Reshut Mekademet Taasuka, and Riyan) were trained to serve as ‘Kidum professionals’. Participants aged 20-45 seeking advancement were given personalized work plans and continuing guidance and support to implement the work plans. Selected participants were encouraged to enroll in vocational training or academic studies, and received financial assistance for their studies.
MJB accompanied the program in the first two years of its implementation. An interim report (2014) focused on implementation in the first year. The current report focuses on the findings after two years.
The primary goals of the study were to monitor the implementation of the program and to track the employment outcomes of the participants. We conducted 20 field interviews with the Kidum staff, and 75 of the 114 participants were interviewed by telephone. A comparison group of some 95 individuals matching the participants on a number of characteristics, who qualified for, but did not participate, in the program, were also interviewed by telephone. This comparison served to assess the extent to which the employment advancement found among participants could be attributed to the program services.
Main Findings:
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Studies : 56% of the Kidum participants signed up for studies, mostly in vocational training. This was 24 percentage points higher than what was found in the comparison groups (32%); 25% of the participants were still studying at the time of the interview, and many reduced their work hours after they started studying.
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Employment Advancement : 39% of the participants increased their wages by 10% or more after two years; this percentage is likely to rise after all of the participants complete their studies, and was moderately higher than what was found in the comparison group (34%).
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Impact: The program had an especially large impact on Eshet Hayil Kidum participants – 52% increased their wages by 10% or more compared with 30% in the comparison group.
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Participant Evaluations: The participants reported that the assistance from the Kidum professionals and the financial assistance towards studies were the most important services offered by the program.
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Implementation : Kidum professionals assumed responsibility for coordinating the Kidum program while continuing to work at their main jobs at the employment center. Of the participating programs, only Eshet Hayil received funding for the work of the Kidum professionals. Kidum professionals reported that the increased work load and lack of funding limited their ability to allocate time for the Kidum participants.
The Kidum program is planning to expand its activities by providing effective advancement-support services to a larger number of low-wage workers. The findings from this study will serve as a basis for discussion of how to do so most effectively.
The study was initiated by JDC-TEVET which assisted with its funding
Citing suggestion: Fischman, N., & Wolde-Tsadick, N. (2016). Developing Methods for Improving the Work Conditions of Low-Wage Workers: Summary Evaluation Report of the Employment Advancement (Kidum) Program. RR-707-16. Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)