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The impact of dual apprenticeship programmes on early labour market outcomes: A dynamic approach

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  • Neyt, Brecht
  • Verhaest, Dieter
  • Baert, Stijn

Abstract

This study examines the impact of enrolling into dual apprenticeship programmes during secondary education on six early employment outcomes. Our contribution to the literature is threefold. First, we apply a method that has rarely been used in this literature to control for potential selection biases. Second, this method allows us to distinguish between the programmes’ direct effect (conditional on educational achievement) and indirect effect (via educational achievement) on labour market outcomes. Third, we examine the impact of two distinct dual apprenticeship programmes in a novel setting: Flanders (Belgium). We find evidence for short-term labour market advantages only for the programme with the most days of on-the-job training, which fade out quickly over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Neyt, Brecht & Verhaest, Dieter & Baert, Stijn, 2020. "The impact of dual apprenticeship programmes on early labour market outcomes: A dynamic approach," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:78:y:2020:i:c:s0272775719302225
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2020.102022
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    Cited by:

    1. Miriam Grønning & Irene Kriesi, 2022. "Skill Endowment Through Vocational Education and Training Programmes and Early Career Mobility," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(4), pages 115-128.
    2. Tobback, Ilse & Verhaest, Dieter & De Witte, Kristof, 2025. "The impact of work-based versus school-based learning on cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes in vocational secondary education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Brecht Neyt & Dieter Verhaest, 2026. "The Impact of STEM Programmes on Schooling and Early Labour Market Outcomes," De Economist, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 59-90, March.
    4. Brecht Neyt & Dieter Verhaest & Stijn Baert, 2019. "The Impact of Internship Experience During Secondary Education on Schooling and Labour Market Outcomes," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 19/980, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    5. Irene Kriesi & Juerg Schweri, 2019. "Types of Education, Achievement and Labour Market Integration over the Life Course," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 58-64.
    6. By Stijn Baert & Brecht Neyt & Eddy Omey & Dieter Verhaest, 2022. "Student work during secondary education, educational achievement, and later employment: a dynamic approach," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 1605-1635, September.
    7. Chiara Zisler & Samuel Luethi & Damiano Pregaldini & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2023. "Opening Doors for Immigrants: The Importance of Occupational and Workplace-Based Cultural Skills for Successful Labor Market Entry," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0204, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    8. McGuinness, Seamus & Kelly, Lorcan & Devlin, Anne & Whelan, Adele, 2025. "Vocational Education, Earnings and Job Satisfaction in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 18134, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Cahuc, Pierre & Hervelin, Jérémy, 2024. "The effect of workplace vs school-based vocational education on youth unemployment: Evidence from France," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    10. Miriam Grønning & Irene Kriesi, 2022. "Skill Endowment Through Vocational Education and Training Programmes and Early Career Mobility," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(4), pages 115-128.
    11. Jérémy Hervelin, 2025. "Firm retention and productivity of apprentices," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 68(3), pages 1265-1280, March.
    12. Irene Kriesi & Juerg Schweri, 2019. "Types of Education, Achievement and Labour Market Integration over the Life Course," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 58-64.
    13. Ilse Tobback & Dieter Verhaest & Stijn Baert, 2020. "Student Access to Apprenticeships: Evidence from a Vignette Experiment," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 435-465, July.
    14. Lüthi, Samuel, 2025. "Classroom versus workbench: The impact of firm-based learning on labour market and educational outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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