Cognitive Training for Jobseekers: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

Benghalem, Hélène, Bächli, Mirjam, Doriana Tinello, Sascha Zuber, Mauro Cherubini, Damaris Aschwanden, Matthias Kliegel, Rafael Lalive and Michele Pellizzari

No 21860, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: Cognition is likely to be important for job search, but its role is not yet well understood. We study an online field experiment with jobseekers registered at the Swiss public employment services. Participants were randomly assigned to an online cognitive training program designed to strengthen core cognitive abilities and transversal cognitive abilities relevant for job search. Combining administrative and survey data on employment and earnings, we find that access to cognitive training substantially increases employment rates and earnings while reducing reliance on transfer income. In a simple search model, these findings could arise when cognition improves search effectiveness leading to lower search effort but higher chances of employment.

Keywords: Online; job; search (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 J62 J64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-08
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