Professionalizing the Role of Employment Consultants with Data and Microlearning: New Insights and Lessons Learned

Training is often recommended to professionalize the role of employment consultants. However, adult learning theory suggests that applying what is learned in training can be challenging without reinforcement in the workflow. This article examines how integrating data and microlearning into employment consultants' workflows can support the implementation of best practices in supported and customized employment. Thirteen employment programs used a tool that visualized individual, team, and project-wide data on employment service delivery, accompanied by microlearning. Over the 12-month intervention, time dedicated to supports leading to hire increased by 9%, to community-based supports by 49%, and to specific best practices in getting to know job seekers and finding jobs by 12%. Meanwhile, time devoted to non-employment tasks decreased by 20% and administrative tasks by 11%. These promising findings suggest that embedding data and microlearning in the workflow may help strengthen professional practice and improve employment outcomes for job seekers.