Preface -- 1. Low-skilled jobs : the reality behind the popular perceptions -- What are low-skilled jobs? -- Who fills low-skilled positions? -- The economic environment facing workers in low-skilled positions -- The argument for skills -- Policy solutions -- First chance : building skills in public schools -- Second chance : out-of-school programs -- Demand side -- Safety nets -- Summary -- 2. Local labor markets and low-skilled jobs : theory and data -- The conventional description of the market for workers in low-skilled jobs -- An alternative to the conventional view -- Our data -- Summary -- 3. How skills matter -- Skill patterns exist across occupations and industries -- Wages and training do not change with labor market changes -- Skills with high relative demand increase wages -- Summary and conclusions -- 4. Recruiting and screening workers in low-skilled positions -- Firms' recruiting and screening of workers varies with firm size -- Firms' recruiting and screening methods are related to skills -- Firms modify recruiting and screening methods with labor market conditions -- More skilled individuals use more sophisticated job search methods for low-skilled positions -- Summary and conclusions.

5. Skills, promotions, and low-skilled positions -- Promotional opportunities with expanded duties exist -- Skills in the entry-level position are correlated with skills in the next position -- Successful applicants have above-minimum qualifications -- Skill requirements in entry-level jobs do not determine advancement potential -- Summary and conclusions -- 6. Labor markets for workers in low-skilled positions : how can policies help workers? -- The labor market for workers in low-skilled positions : the employer's view -- The labor market for workers in low-skilled jobs : the worker's view -- The second-chance policy solution : WIA training -- Policy implications -- Appendix A : Background tables and variable construction -- References -- The author -- Index -- About the Institute.

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