Does Job Search Assistance Really Raise Employment?

Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP13133

Authors: Lionel Cottier; Yves Flueckiger; Pierre Kempeneers; Rafael Lalive

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.

Keywords: job placement; long term unemployment; job loss; job search assistance; active labor market policy

JEL Codes: J64; J68


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
Employment Gains (J23)Employment Loss (J63)
Job Search Assistance (JSA) (J68)Lower-Quality Jobs (J69)
Job Search Assistance (JSA) (J68)Employment (J68)
Job Search Assistance (JSA) (J68)Job Finding Rates (J68)
Job Search Assistance (JSA) (J68)Job Stability (J63)

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