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Labor Markets

J-PAL’s Labor Markets sector evaluates what works to get job seekers into the workforce, to ease young people’s transitions into the working world, to provide the skills entrepreneurs need to succeed, and to help businesses grow and innovate.

In addition to supporting policymakers in applying evidence from randomized evaluations to their work, sector chairs and staff write policy insights that synthesize general lessons emerging from the research, condense results from evaluations in policy publications and evaluation summaries, and fund new research through the Jobs and Opportunity Initiative.

Man looks over resume during a job interview

Policy Insight

Vocational and skills training programs to improve labor market outcomes

While vocational and skills training programs have had mixed results, those that included practical experience, soft-skills training, and job referrals often increased the hours worked and earnings of people who were targeted. Vocational training programs often helped trainees acquire hard skills...

Policy Insight

Reducing search barriers for job seekers

Programs focused on reducing job search barriers often improve job seekers’ employment outcomes. These programs can help job seekers increase their search effort, identify where and how to look for jobs, surmount geographic and financial obstacles to finding a job, and communicate qualifications to...

A woman sells fruit to another woman at a market stand while both are wearing face masks over their mouth and nose.

Evaluation

The Impact of Cash Transfers on Female Entrepreneurs’ Business Outcomes during Covid-19 in Kenya

Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of providing cash transfers to female entrepreneurs during the pandemic on their business outcomes and behavior. Firm profit, inventory spending, and food expenditures all increased for business owners that received the cash transfer...

young Rwandan woman carrying a sack on her head

Evaluation

Benchmarking Cash to an Employment Program in Rwanda

In Rwanda, researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to compare the impact of Huguka Dukore, a youth employment and training program, to that of cash grants of an equivalent value on several economic outcomes. Huguka Dukore improved hours worked, assets, savings, and subjective well-being, while...