Generation: Youth Employed Evaluation

Generation is a global nonprofit with a dual mission of empowering young adults to develop sustainable careers and providing employers with skilled workers. Since launching its first programs in 2015, Generation has graduated more than 100,000 trainees across 18 countries. In this evaluation, Mathematica assessed Generation programs in India and Kenya. In the early stages of this engagement, Mathematica reviewed and provided recommendations on existing data collection processes, as well as on Generation's theory of change. Mathematica conducted a short-term outcomes assessment of learners and employers in the first half of 2022, which included validating Generation's existing program data from learners. In the first half of 2023, Mathematica assessed longer-term outcomes and conducted a process evaluation of the programs in India. 

In both India and Kenya, the long-term outcomes assessment showed that Generation learners substantially outperformed the comparison group in key labor market outcomes, which were measured about 15 months after program completion, on average. In India, Generation learners were more than twice as likely as comparison learners to have found a job since program completion, and more than 50 percent more likely to be employed at the survey date. Generation learners also earned an average of about 75 percent more at the survey date, primarily because a greater percentage were employed. In Kenya, Generation earners were almost 30 percent more likely to have found a job since program completion than similar non-selected applicants, and more than 60 percent more likely to be employed at the survey date. Generation learners in Kenya earned an average of 50 percent more than non-selected applicants at the survey date.