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Conscientiousness and Labor Market Returns: Evidence from a Field Experiment in West Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Mathias Allemand

    (University of Zurich)

  • Martina Kirchberger

    (Trinity College Dublin)

  • Sveta Milusheva

    (The World Bank)

  • Carol Newman

    (Trinity College Dublin)

  • Brent Roberts

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Vincent Thorne

    (Trinity College Dublin)

Abstract

Non-cognitive skills are increasingly recognized as important determinants of labor market outcomes. To what extent specific skills can be affected in adulthood remains an open question. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with low-skilled employed workers in Senegal where workers were randomly assigned to receive a training intervention designed to affect conscientiousness-related skills. We found that treated workers were significantly more likely to stay in their job and have higher wages nine months after the intervention. Our findings suggest that non-cognitive skills can be affected even later in the life cycle and can have substantial labor market returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathias Allemand & Martina Kirchberger & Sveta Milusheva & Carol Newman & Brent Roberts & Vincent Thorne, 2023. "Conscientiousness and Labor Market Returns: Evidence from a Field Experiment in West Africa," Trinity Economics Papers tep0123, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tcd:tcduee:tep0123
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    File URL: https://www.tcd.ie/Economics/TEP/2023/TEP0123.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eliana Carranza & David McKenzie, 2024. "Job Training and Job Search Assistance Policies in Developing Countries," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 38(1), pages 221-244, Winter.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    non-cognitiveskills; labormarkets; conscientiousness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Training
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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