A randomized experiment on improving job search skills of older unemployed workers

Nynke de Groot and Bas van der Klaauw
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Nynke de Groot: National Healthcare Institute
Bas van der Klaauw: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

No 26-018/V, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: Active labor market programs targeted at older unemployed workers are often believed to be ineffective. We exploit a large-scale randomized experiment involving approximately 50,000 older unemployed workers to evaluate an intensive job search assistance program that focuses on exploiting the social network. Participation in the program increases exits from unemployment insurance by 4.4 percentage points. Program participation reduces cumulative benefit payments by about €715, exceeding the program costs of €470. Participants compensate the reduced benefits receipt with higher earnings. We find that participants change their job search behavior according to the content of the program, and that both the trainer and the training group composition affect the program effectiveness.

Keywords: Randomized experiment; older unemployed workers; ALMP; job search assistance; social network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 J14 J64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05-21
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