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Skill Distance Between Occupations and Post‑Training Professional Transitions of Jobseekers

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Listed:
  • Kevin Michael Frick
  • Yagan Hazard
  • Damien Mayaux
  • Thomas Zuber

Abstract

[eng] Does vocational training help correct structural imbalances in the labour market? We propose a new measure of the skills distance between occupations, obtained by fine-tuning a large language model on a sample of job offers. Using this method, we demonstrate that the "return to employment" differential between jobseekers with and without training is driven by a reallocation of workers towards occupations that are very different from their previous posts in terms of the skills required. From a purely reallocative perspective, however, the return to employment differential associated with vocational training does not appear to be driven by more jobseekers moving to occupations where employers are struggling to recruit.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Michael Frick & Yagan Hazard & Damien Mayaux & Thomas Zuber, 2025. "Skill Distance Between Occupations and Post‑Training Professional Transitions of Jobseekers," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 547, pages 49-67.
    • Handle: RePEc:nse:ecosta:ecostat_2025_547_4
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.24187/ecostat.2025.547.2138
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sharon Traiberman, 2019. "Occupations and Import Competition: Evidence from Denmark," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(12), pages 4260-4301, December.
    2. Basco, Sergi & Liégey, Maxime & Mestieri, Martí & Smagghue, Gabriel, 2025. "The effect of import competition across occupations," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
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