Monetary incentives to reinforce engagement and achievement in a job-skills training program for homeless, unemployed adults.

Researchers split 124 homeless adults with alcohol problems into two groups. One group got paid for showing up and passing tests in a job-skills class. The other group got the same class for free but no pay.

The pay group could earn up to $45 a week. They got $5 for each day they arrived on time and $10 for each quiz they passed. The study ran over the study period.

Paid trainees came to class twice as often as unpaid ones. They also moved through the course faster and stayed longer each day.

By the end, a large share of the paid group finished the full course. Only a large share of the unpaid group did.

Silverman et al. (2005) tried a similar idea earlier. They paid adults in recovery to do online data-entry work. Both studies show cash keeps people working when drugs are a risk.

Duerden et al. (2012) paid adults for clean alcohol tests. N et al. paid for class work, not sobriety. Together they show money can steer the same people toward two different goals.

Pirnia et al. (2016) used prize bags instead of cash. Both methods worked, so you can pick the reward that fits your budget.

If you run day programs, shelters, or vocational centers, pay small amounts for attendance and task mastery. The cash keeps clients coming while they learn skills that lead to real jobs. Start with $5 a day and raise the pay for harder tasks. Track it like a token board—simple and clear.