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Advising Job Seekers in Occupations with Poor Prospects: A Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Belot, Michèle

    (Cornell University)

  • de Koning, Bart K.

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Fouarge, Didier

    (ROA, Maastricht University)

  • Kircher, Philipp

    (Cornell University)

  • Muller, Paul

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Philippen, Sandra

    (University of Groningen)

Abstract

We study the impact of online information provision to unemployed job seekers who are looking for work in occupations in slack markets, i.e. with only few vacancies per job seeker. Job seekers received suggestions about suitable alternative occupations, and how the prospects of these alternatives compare to their current occupation of interest. Some additionally received a link to a motivational video. We evaluate the interventions using a randomized field experiment covering all eligible job seekers registered to search in the target occupations. The vast majority of treated job seekers open the message revealing the alternative suggestions. The motivational video is rarely watched. Effects on unemployed job seekers in structurally poor labor markets are large: their employment, hours of work and labor income all improve by 5% to 6% after 18 months. Additional survey evidence shows that treated job seekers find employment in more diverse occupations.

Suggested Citation

  • Belot, Michèle & de Koning, Bart K. & Fouarge, Didier & Kircher, Philipp & Muller, Paul & Philippen, Sandra, 2025. "Advising Job Seekers in Occupations with Poor Prospects: A Field Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 17905, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17905
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bas van der Klaauw & Heike Vethaak, 2022. "Empirical Evaluation of Broader Job Search Requirements for Unemployed Workers," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-083/V, Tinbergen Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jeremias Klaeui, 2026. "When to Broaden, When to Focus: Job Search and Market Tightness," CESifo Working Paper Series 12744, CESifo.
    2. Dabed, Diego & Genz, Sabrina & Rademakers, Emilie, 2025. "Equalising the effects of automation? The role of task overlap for job finding," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    3. de Koning, Bart & Muller, Paul & Belot, Michèle & Engels, Yvonne & Fouarge, Didier & Keer, Mario & Kircher, Philipp & Phlippen, Sandra, 2026. "Online Buddies for Job Seekers: A Field Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 18437, IZA Network @ LISER.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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