Getting Connected: Strategies for Expanding the Employment Networks of Low-Income People

We've all heard the familiar phrase, "It's not what you know, but who you know that matters." Not surprisingly, studies have found that most people find jobs through informal networks. This is no less true for low-income job seekers, who may be at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to connections to people who can help them get good jobs. Getting Connected looks at eight programs from across the country that focus explicitly on increasing the size and quality of low-income people's networks as part of their broader strategy. Though there is variation in how networking is incorporated into these programs, all aim to provide participants with the ability to form connections that will help them negotiate job change throughout their working lives