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Employment Effects of Skills Trainings in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Recent Randomized Controlled Trials

Author

Listed:
  • Bernd Beber

    (RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research)

  • Tabea Lakemann

    (German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
    University of Göttingen)

  • Regina Schnars

    (German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
    University of Göttingen)

  • Jann Lay

    (German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)
    University of Göttingen)

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive systematic review of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the employment effects of skills training programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The review focuses on studies conducted between 2019 and 2024, a period marked by a significant increase in the number of RCTs of training interventions in this region, and we thus fill a gap left by earlier reviews that did not reflect this recent surge in experimental studies. We employ the standard SPIDER approach for defining search terms and the PRISMA procedure for search and selection to systematically analyze the impact of these training programs on employment outcomes. The findings reveal a shift towards a more optimistic assessment compared to previous analyses, suggesting that many recent skills training programs do contribute to improving employment-related outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernd Beber & Tabea Lakemann & Regina Schnars & Jann Lay, 2025. "Employment Effects of Skills Trainings in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Recent Randomized Controlled Trials," De Economist, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 87-120, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:decono:v:173:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10645-024-09442-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10645-024-09442-6
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Systematic review; Skills training; Randomized controlled trials; Sub-Saharan Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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