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Estimating the effect of a retraining program on the re-employment rate of displaced workers

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  • Sandra Cavaco
  • Denis Fougère
  • Julien Pouget

Abstract

In this article, we estimate the effects of a French retraining program on the re-employment rate of displaced workers by matching techniques. This program, called ‘Conventions de conversion’, was intended to improve re-employment prospects of displaced workers by proposing them retraining and job seeking assistance for a period of 6 months beginning just after the dismissal. Our empirical analysis is based upon non-experimental data collected by the French Ministry of Labour. Matching estimates show that this program succeeded in increasing the employment rate of trainees by approximately 6 points of percentage in the medium-term, namely in the 2nd and 3rd years after the date of entry into the program. This improvement is essentially due to an increase of their re-employment rate in regular jobs, namely jobs under long-term labour contracts. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2013

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  • Sandra Cavaco & Denis Fougère & Julien Pouget, 2013. "Estimating the effect of a retraining program on the re-employment rate of displaced workers," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 261-287, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:44:y:2013:i:1:p:261-287
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-010-0391-6
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    4. Melvin Vooren & Carla Haelermans & Wim Groot & Henriette Maassen van den Brink, 2022. "Make IT Work: The Labor Market Effects of Information Technology Retraining in the Netherlands," De Economist, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 323-342, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Evaluation; Retraining program; Displaced workers; Matching estimates; C41; J24; J64; J68;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis; Optimal Timing Strategies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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