Closing the Mismatch: Encouraging Jobseekers to Reskill for Shortage Occupations

Elisabeth Leduc and Ilan Tojerow
Additional contact information
Elisabeth Leduc: Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tinbergen Institute
Ilan Tojerow: Université Libre de Bruxelles

No 25-014/V, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: We partner with a Public Employment Service to examine whether jobseekers can be encouraged to reskill for shortage occupations. In a large-scale field experiment involving 100,000 recently unemployed individuals, we provide information on shortage occupations and related training opportunities. The intervention increased participation in transversal training courses by 6%, but did not boost enrolment in occupational training for shortage jobs. Jobseekers also shifted their search towards high-demand occupations, yet employment remained unchanged. These findings suggest that while low-cost informational interventions can influence job search and training behaviour, different approaches are likely needed to drive substantial reskilling among jobseekers.

Keywords: Unemployment; Job Search; RCT; Occupational Training; Labour Shortages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-02-28
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://papers.tinbergen.nl/25014.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tin:wpaper:20250014

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Tinbergen Office +31 (0)10-4088900 ().