JTPA,black employment,and occupational change: Separating out cyclical changes from program changes

Evidence from Bridgeport, Connecticut’s Job Training and Partnership Act program is examined to determine if black employment and the occupational distribution of jobs held by blacks has been affected. Historical employment data is used to illustrate the cyclical nature of employment growth. It is concluded that the increases in black employment over the first nine months of the program are only partially the result of program. A second conclusion is that the occupational distribution of jobs in the program does not differ from the distribution of jobs of blacks not in the program. A third conclusion is that the program is underfunded.