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Mentoring Improves the Labor-Market Prospects of Highly Disadvantaged Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Sven Resnjanskij
  • Jens Ruhose
  • Simon Wiederhold
  • Ludger Wößmann

Abstract

How can the labor-market prospects of adolescents from highly disadvantaged backgrounds be improved? One possible approach is mentoring programs that provide young people with volunteer students to support them. A study by the ifo Institute shows that a mentoring program significantly improves an index of labor-market prospects for eighth- and ninth-grade high-school students from highly disadvantaged backgrounds one year after the start of the program. In contrast, the program has no positive effects on adolescents from less disadvantaged family backgrounds. This suggests that mentoring can be effective precisely where it complements limited family support.

Suggested Citation

  • Sven Resnjanskij & Jens Ruhose & Simon Wiederhold & Ludger Wößmann, 2021. "Mentoring Improves the Labor-Market Prospects of Highly Disadvantaged Adolescents," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 74(02), pages 31-38, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:74:y:2021:i:02:p:31-38
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    References listed on IDEAS

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