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The Benefits of Early Work Experience for School Dropouts: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Jérémy Hervelin
  • Pierre Villedieu

    (Université de Cergy-Pontoise, THEMA)

Abstract

This paper investigates whether work experience gained through a subsidized job program can improve the employment prospects of young school dropouts. Relying on a correspondence study field experiment conducted in France, we find that the chances to be invited for a job interview are more than doubled (from 7.6 percent to 19.3 percent) when youths signal a one-year job-related experience in their résumé - either in the private or public sector; either certified or not - compared to youths who remained mainly inactive after dropping out from high school. We show that this e ect is fairly stable across firm, contract or labor market characteristics, and also when testing another channel of application where resumes were sent spontaneously to firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Jérémy Hervelin & Pierre Villedieu, 2022. "The Benefits of Early Work Experience for School Dropouts: Evidence from a Field Experiment," THEMA Working Papers 2022-07, THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise.
    • Handle: RePEc:ema:worpap:2022-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiara Zisler & Damiano Pregaldini & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2023. "Opening doors for immigrants: The importance of occupational and workplace-based cultural skills for successful labor market entry," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0204, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    School dropouts; Work experience; Subsidized employment; Job Interview; Field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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