News

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) published new research by Poverty Solutions director H. Luke Shaefer and co-author Joshua Rivera. The report examines Employer Resource Networks (ERNs), an innovative model through which local networks of employers collectively provide work support services to their entry-level workforces, with the goal of enhancing productivity and retention.

In the report, Shaefer and Rivera describe the ERN model and detail the current state and functions of these programs nationwide.

Key findings include:

• Employer Resource Networks (ERNs) are an innovative model through which local networks of employers collectively provide work support services to their entry-level workforce.
• ERNs hold promise for addressing the societal challenge of unstable labor market attachment among low-earning workers while increasing worker productivity.
• While available evidence suggests considerable promise, a future rigorous evaluation could explore whether ERNs yield sustained impacts on employment, earnings, and well-being.
• A deeper examination of ERNs as a private-sector solution could reveal new and promising strategies for supporting workers and their families.

Full Report (PDF)