Using data-enabled performance feedback and guidance to assist employment consultants in their work with job seekers: An experimental study

BACKGROUND: The success of job seekers with disabilities in achieving their employment goals depends in large part on the quality of employment supports that they receive from employment consultants. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of data-enabled performance feedback to assist employment consultants in implementing standards of effective employment supports. METHODS: A total of 187 employment consultants in 30 states were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group received data-enabled performance feedback and guidance for 12 months, whereas the control group continued with business as usual. Both groups completed baseline and quarterly surveys throughout the intervention. RESULTS: One year after baseline, the intervention group reported a statistically significant improvement in job seekers' work hours, compared to the control group. Earnings and time to hire improved as well, but the change was not statistically significant. There was no meaningful difference in the number of job seekers hired across the intervention and control groups. CONCLUSION: Challenges in the fidelity of implementation of the intervention make it premature to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of data-enabled performance feedback to employment consultants for improving job seekers' employment outcomes.