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Returns to Soft Skills Training in Rwanda

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  • Brudevold-Newman,Andrew Peter
  • Ubfal,Diego Javier

Abstract

Young adults seeking to enter the labor market often confront a skills mismatch with firmsreporting difficulty finding new entrants with appropriate levels of soft skills. This paper reports findings from arandomized controlled trial in Rwanda in which recent graduates from tertiary education were randomly assigned toa two-week intensive soft skills training program developed and delivered by staff of the University of Rwanda. Resultsindicate that the program facilitated accelerated entry into the labor market in a period characterized byCOVID-19-related disruptions. These effects dissipated over the following year as more jobs became available in theeconomy and the control group's employment caught up with that of the treatment group. The paper finds evidenceof significant job network expansion for participants of the training, which could have led to faster labor market entryfor the treated youth.

Suggested Citation

  • Brudevold-Newman,Andrew Peter & Ubfal,Diego Javier, 2023. "Returns to Soft Skills Training in Rwanda," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10489, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10489
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