ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the many benefits of work and explores a significant body of research, which clearly states that entering the first rung in the labor force as rapidly as possible is a tried and true strategy for advancement. Published in 2005, the National Evaluation of Welfare to Work Strategies was even more thorough in its findings that work-first is a superior approach to human capital education and training. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients are assigned to entry-level jobs at government offices, nonprofit agencies, educational institutions, or for-profit businesses, creating an immediate attachment to the labor market. The failures of job training and education-based programs in the past must not prevent one from considering their place in a strategy to provide jobs instead of dependence. When there is a robust coordination between the prospective jobs and the programs, programs that incorporate training and education are successful.
