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Does Job Search Assistance Really Raise Employment?

Author

Listed:
  • Cottier, Lionel

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Flückiger, Yves

    (University of Geneva)

  • Kempeneers, Pierre

    (University of Geneva)

  • Lalive, Rafael

    (University of Lausanne)

Abstract

We study how job search assistance (JSA) affects employment in a randomized pilot study with long run administrative data. JSA increases employment in the first year after assignment. In the second year, when most job seekers have left JSA, the employment gains evaporate, and even turn into losses in the third year. This sinusoidal pattern is consistent with job finding and employment loss transitions. Job seekers assigned to JSA find employment faster but, once employed, also lose employment faster, especially once eligible for new unemployment benefits. Job seekers assigned to JSA have similar types of contracts and re-employment earnings, but somewhat worse positions in the firm and are more likely to have a part time job.

Suggested Citation

  • Cottier, Lionel & Flückiger, Yves & Kempeneers, Pierre & Lalive, Rafael, 2018. "Does Job Search Assistance Really Raise Employment?," IZA Discussion Papers 11766, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11766
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    Cited by:

    1. Belot, Michèle & Kircher, Philipp & Muller, Paul, 2022. "Do the Long-term Unemployed Benefit from Automated Occupational Advice during Online Job Search?," CEPR Discussion Papers 17513, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Cheung, Maria & Egebark, Johan & Forslund, Anders & Laun, Lisa & Rödin, Magnus & Vikström, Johan, 2019. "Does job search assistance reduce unemployment? Experimental evidence on displacement effects and mechanisms," Working Paper Series 2019:25, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    3. Daniel Albalate & Germà Bel & Lídia Farré, 2020. "An analysis on the success of privately-led job search assistance programs against social exclusion," IREA Working Papers 202002, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Feb 2020.
    4. Fontenay, Sébastien & Tojerow, Ilan, 2022. "How Does Job Coaching Help Disability Insurance Recipients Work While on Claim?," IZA Discussion Papers 15386, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job placement; long term unemployment; job loss; job search assistance; active labor market policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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