ABSTRACT
This chapter presents two experiments that explored private sector applications of data and technology to drive positive outcomes for “opportunity youth”, a term used to describe the nearly six million young Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 who are out of work and out of school. Experiment 1 describes a partnership between The Rockefeller Foundation, Incandescent, and HMSHost to analyze retention data and increase tenure for young, entry-level workers that include opportunity youth. Experiment 2 describes a partnership between The Rockefeller Foundation, Incandescent, and Knack to use gamified assessments as a recruitment tool for entry-level hiring. Frontline interviews and observations at locations with average and above-average retention outcomes helped us identify the manager behaviors that matter most for associate engagement. Exemplary managers were often more creative in helping their people, for example, by creating learning moments with their associates. Employers routinely use educational level as a proxy for performance when making hiring decisions.
