First, they are not targeted on specific programs, and so the estimates of aggregate program effects may lump together the effects of effective and ineffective programs. The results found for young workers also tend to persist in the second postprogram year. As with adults, net gains were greatest for young females, being negligible or insignificant for males. After classifying youth according to their attachment to the labor force, net earnings gains were found to be greatest among structurally unemployed or discouraged workers. From their analyses, the SRI authors conclude that most of the differences could be attributed to choices made in the sampling frame and to an updating of 1979 Social Security earnings.
Work experience has negative effects for all age and sex groups.
Both male and female participants are more likely to be employed after CETA, but males are less likely to be in high-paying jobs or to work long hours. Length of stay in the program has a positive impact on postprogram earnings, with turning points for young men at 8 months and for young women at 1 month. Placement on leaving the program leads to positive earnings gains. For work experience, significant negative or insignificant net effects for all groups. Among groups, the most negative findings were for white males, the most positive for minority females.