Public Work History & Reputation Ratings
RCTReview
In online labor platforms and gig economies, hiring firms face severe asymmetric information regarding entry-level workers' actual performance and reliability. Without verifiable past performance records, high-performing candidates remain indistinguishable from low-performing candidates.
Picture this
Public work history ratings act like a restaurant review score on a public map app. Instead of customers taking a gamble on an unknown diner, verified ratings from past diners immediately show which kitchens consistently deliver good food and service.
What the evidence says
Displaying detailed public information about workers' previous performance significantly increased job matches and overall earnings for strong performers on the platform.
- Who was studied
- Human independent contractors seeking short-term jobs on oDesk (a global online marketplace).
- How
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) evaluating public display of detailed past work experience and ratings.
What to do
Publish objective performance ratings and verified job completion histories on job seeker profiles to enable hiring firms to identify top performers.
From the source
"In a study on oDesk, a large, global online marketplace where workers seek and perform jobs online as independent contractors, detailed public information about the worker's previous work experience increased earnings for strong performers."
Improving_job_seekers_employment_and_earnings_through_credible_skills.pdf