Research Expertise
Public Policy Analysis
Public policy analysis is the study of the formation, implementation, impact, and evaluation of public policies, programs, and problems. Public policy analysis informs policymakers as they seek to develop and improve the effectiveness of policies and programs, using impartial, rigorous research.
Heldrich Center researchers use qualitative and quantitative research methods to study various problems, public policies, and public programs in education, the labor market, and the economy, to inform decision-making for policymakers and individuals at the state and national levels. These approaches include but are not limited to focus groups, structured and semi-structured interviews, statistical analyses of administrative data, and survey research, with an emphasis on highlighting the voices and experiences of workers, job seekers, and the public who are enrolled in or affected by the policies and programs of interest.
Across the United States, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations are implementing employment, education, and training policies and programs to help workers and job seekers. The Heldrich Center works with an array of clients to design, develop, and refine these policies and programs so that they best help the individuals they are seeking to assist. The Heldrich Center has engaged in public policy analyses to inform public policy and improve education, training, and workforce development programs, including:
- Assessing New Jersey’s implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, most recently the integration of workforce development services and adult education and literacy services, the delivery of virtual services, and transportation supportive services for participants.
- Informing the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s awareness campaigns of the state’s Earned Sick Leave law and Family Leave Insurance program.
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of New Jersey’s youth workforce development system.
- Using data stored in the New Jersey Statewide Data System to conduct research studies focused on improving policy outcomes in New Jersey.
- Determining the equity, infrastructure, and workforce needs within New Jersey’s energy-efficiency and decarbonization sectors to better understand the current landscape, challenges, and areas for growth.
- Evaluating innovative pilot programs, such as the Lifelong Learning Account Pilot Program in New Jersey, which was designed for unemployed and underemployed, low-income individuals without a degree or credential to connect with education and training programs and reduce barriers to participation.
- Documenting progress and policy and coalescing stakeholders on New Jersey’s worker-centered approach to modernizing the Unemployment Insurance system, ensuring that individuals have accurate and timely access to benefits in the state.