Foundational Employment Opportunities
Locations
- Goodwill of Colorado, Colorado
Focus Area
- Economic Mobility
“Our theory of change is pretty straightforward. When people are employed with Goodwill and experience solid training with a culture that values development and belonging, we believe they gain hard and transferable skills that will translate into financial stability and advancement.”
The Issue
Many people experience multiple barriers on their path to employment. A history of incarceration, physical or mental disabilities, lack of a high school diploma, limited digital literacy, and lack of access to reliable transportation can trap individuals in the cycles of unemployment and underemployment. Traditional workforce support systems frequently fail to address these challenges holistically, which can lead to families experiencing poverty and dependence on public assistance. In order to break through the many barriers to employment, people need the resources to obtain a job and opportunities to advance in their career.
The Intervention
Goodwill Colorado’s employment engagement services are built on the core belief that personal stability drives community prosperity. The central framework for this intervention is the A-B-C journey:
- A Job: Provides immediate access, structure, and a starting point.
- A Better Job: Focuses on building skills, confidence, and increased earnings.
- A Career: Delivers long-term stability and opens doors to sustained economic mobility.
Goodwill Colorado’s Foundational Employment Opportunities serve as the first rung on this A-B-C career ladder. These opportunities are open to individuals who face significant barriers to employment, including involvement in the justice system, employment gaps, and limited work experience. Unlike traditional employers that may screen out candidates based on these factors, Goodwill Colorado embraces a Fair Chance Hiring model, intentionally recruiting from marginalized talent pools to transform lives through work. Applicants are employed in entry-level positions within Goodwill that not only provide a consistent paycheck but also build essential work experience, a professional network, and confidence. The programs offer holistic support services, including skills training, job coaching, and access to a wider network of resources.
Research Question
What is the effect of a Goodwill Foundational Employment Opportunity on outcomes such as quarterly earnings, labor market attachment, career progression, and benefits usage?
Intended Outcomes
LEO and Goodwill Colorado are partnering to estimate the causal impact of Foundational Employment Opportunities on future labor market outcomes. Specific outcomes of interest include quarterly formal sector employment and earnings. Researchers may also measure criminal justice outcomes, housing stability, and benefits usage.
Research Study Design
LEO plans to use a quasi-experimental study to evaluate the impact of Goodwill Colorado’s foundational employment opportunities. The study sample includes any applicants to Goodwill’s Foundational Employee jobs from 2017 to 2024. Goodwill Colorado has created treatment and comparison groups based on application timing and hiring requirements. Hired employees constitute the treatment group, while similar applicants who applied later and were not reviewed form the comparison group. Researchers will compare the labor market outcomes of these groups. This design aims to isolate the impact of Goodwill Colorado’s onboarding, coaching, and learning practices. The study will provide evidence on whether Goodwill Colorado’s employment opportunities are successful at helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and improve their future labor market outcomes.