Workforce
At Basis, we believe that a skilled, engaged workforce is the cornerstone of a thriving community. Our workforce research supports evidence-based solutions that strengthen talent development, improve retention, and expand pathways for career advancement — for workers at every stage.
Talent Retention
Keeping skilled workers isn’t just about removing barriers — it’s about understanding what motivates people to stay, grow, and contribute. Our talent retention research helps organizations develop strategies to reduce turnover, improve job satisfaction, and build sustainable workforce capacity over the long term.
Our Work Includes:
- Mixed-methods studies examining why skilled workers leave -- and what would have kept them
- Evaluations of employer retention initiatives, from incentive structures to advancement pathways
- Longitudinal studies tracking retention patterns across job levels, demographics, and regions
- Technical assistance helping organizations move from turnover data to actionable workforce strategy
Training & Development
Competent educators create confident learners. Our work examines how to prepare, support, and continuously develop the professionals who teach — not only in K-12 classrooms, but across every setting where education and training take place.
Our Work Includes:
- Studies examining the relationship between teacher preparation program quality and classroom effectiveness
- Evaluations of pre-service and in-service training programs across K-12, higher education, and workforce settings
- Mixed-methods research on what sustains educator engagement, growth, and retention over time
- Technical assistance helping education agencies design and refine professional development systems
Adult Education
Adult learners bring real-world experience and genuine motivation — but they also face distinct challenges that traditional programs aren’t always built to address. our research helps programs understand how to serve diverse adult populations and support their success in reaching meaningful educational and career goals.
Our Work Includes:
- Evaluations of programs designed to reengage adult learners
- Research on the pathways, supports and incentives that drive credential and degree attainment among working adults
- Mixed-methods studies identifying the barriers -- financial, structural, and personal -- that interrupt persistence and completion
- Development of theories of action to help programs translate retention, progression, and completion data into targeted interventions for adult learners
Career and Technical Education
Career and technical education creates direct pathways to meaningful work — and meets critical workforce needs across industries. Our research examines how CTE programs can effectively prepare students for their chosen careers while supporting the broader workforce goals of the communities they serve.
Our Work Includes:
- Evaluations of CTW program quality and effectiveness in preparing students for industry-recognized credentials and employment
- Research on the alignment between CTW curricula and regional labor market demand across sectors
- Mixed-methods studies examining the factors that drive student persistence, completion, and placement in CTE programs
- Technical assistance helping CTE providers and workforce partners use outcome data to strengthen program design and community impact
