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Providing Employers with Incentives to Train Low-SkilledWorkers: Evidence from the UK Employer Training Pilots

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  • Laura Abramovsky
  • Erich Battistin
  • Emla Fitzsimons
  • Alissa Goodman
  • Helen Simpson

Abstract

We use unique workplace and employee-level data to evaluate a majorUK government pilot program to increase qualification-based, employer-providedtraining for low-qualified employees. We evaluate the program'seffect using a difference-in-differences approach. Using data on eligibleemployers and workers we find no evidence of a statistically significanteffect on the take-up of training in the first 3 years of the program.Our results suggest that the program involved a high level of deadweightand that improving the additionality of the subsequent national programis crucial if it is to make a significant contribution toward governmenttargets to increase qualification levels. (c) 2011 by The University of Chicago. Allrights reserved.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Abramovsky & Erich Battistin & Emla Fitzsimons & Alissa Goodman & Helen Simpson, 2011. "Providing Employers with Incentives to Train Low-SkilledWorkers: Evidence from the UK Employer Training Pilots," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 29(1), pages 153-193, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:29:y:2010:i:1:p:153-193
    DOI: 10.1086/656372
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    References listed on IDEAS

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