The Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research (CLEAR) is the Department of Labor’s central source for labor-related research.
CLEAR’s mission is to make research on labor topics more accessible to practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and the public, so evidence can inform their decisions about labor policies and programs.
CLEAR identifies, summarizes and rates primarily causal impact studies, as well as some descriptive statistical and implementation studies. The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) created CLEAR in 2012 and continues to expand this resource by conducting systematic evidence reviews across labor topics. To date, CLEAR has summarized more than 1,200 studies across more than 20 labor-related topics between 1978 to the present.
Find “what works…” when developing new programs or technical assistance initiatives. Review CLEAR’s topic areas or searchable database to learn what the evidence base says. Syntheses or study profiles help you learn more about the effectiveness of specific interventions or programs. A search of CLEAR’s study database will give you a sense of how much credible research is out there.
Build high quality evidence. Use or cite CLEAR’s evidence guidelines to encourage the development of high-quality studies across topic areas of interest. CLEAR has guidelines for each of the different types of studies it includes.
Find Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments (RESEA) evidence to improve programs. If you are looking for interventions with RESEA causal evidence ratings, studies of RESEA-related programs, or information about how to build the RESEA evidence base, view these resources:
Interested in learning more? Visit the CLEAR website or contact us.
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.