In a recent article published in Policy & Practice magazine, employment and training expert Rachel Zietlow explores how states can strengthen economic mobility by moving beyond traditional measures of employment success such as participation rates and job placements. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience supporting health and human services programs, Rachel explains that employment should be viewed as an ongoing pathway to stability and advancement rather than a single transaction.
Speaking to state and local human services leaders, Rachel examines the growing convergence of employment goals across SNAP, TANF, and emerging Medicaid community engagement requirements. She highlights the opportunity for agencies to build on decades of experience with employment and training programs while designing more integrated approaches that support compliance, engagement, and long-term outcomes.
Rachel also discusses how states can help individuals navigate employment through "opportunity boards" that connect people to jobs, training, volunteer experiences, and supportive services based on their skills, goals, and real-world circumstances. She emphasizes that lasting employment outcomes require strategies that account for barriers such as transportation, caregiving responsibilities, health considerations, and changing work schedules.
Her perspective is especially timely as states evaluate how to implement employment-related policies amid workforce shortages, budget pressures, and evolving program requirements. Rachel offers the perspective that treating employment as a pathway rather than an event can help agencies create more durable outcomes for participants while improving program effectiveness and operational efficiency.