DP15035 Informing employees in small and medium sized firms about training: results of a randomized field experiment

Author(s):	Gerard van den Berg, Christine Dauth, Pia Homrighausen, Gesine Stephan
Publication Date:	July 2020
Date Revised:	July 2020
Keyword(s):	employment, information treatment, randomized controlled trial, skills, wages
JEL(s):	J24, J65
Programme Areas:	Labour Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=15035

We mailed brochures to 10,000 randomly chosen employed German workers eligible for a subsizided occupational training program called WeGebAU, informing them about the importance of skill-upgrading occupational training in general and about WeGebAU in particular. Using survey and register data, we estimate effects of the information treatment brochure on awareness of the program, on take-up of WeGebAU and other training, and on subsequent employment. The brochure more than doubles awareness of the program. There are no effects on WeGebAU take-up but participation in other (unsubsidized) training increases among employees aged below 45. Short-term labor market outcomes are not affected.