Building Green Pathways Out of Poverty in the Oil Capital: Program Evaluation of Green Jobs Training Grant

Abstract

s This manuscript is a preliminary explorative study of a Department of Labor Pathways Out of Poverty Green Jobs Training program in Houston, Texas. Administrative data from clients (n=177) attending the program between June 2010 and April 2011 were analyzed. Our preliminary findings revealed three variables to independently predict employment in a green job in the final multivariate logistic regression model. Those who completed the solar power installation training (AOR=7.19, CI=1.89, 27.34) and business etiquette training (AOR=3.40; CI = 1.56, 7.41) were significantly more likely to have a green job than those who did not complete that particular training. Interestingly, African Americans were significantly less likely to be employed in green jobs than other ethnicities (AOR=0.47; CI = 0.23, 0.98). Results also indicated that over half of the green jobs paid between $12.00 and $33.00 per hour. Overall, the manuscript provides preliminary data to explore effective program components to providing the Pathways Out of Poverty Green Jobs Training program. Further exploration is needed.