Intervention(s)
Our theory of change is that young jobseekers face multiple, mutually reinforcing constraints, each of which can independently prevent effective job search. In this setting, relaxing any single constraint in isolation is unlikely to substantially improve labor market outcomes. Instead, meaningful improvements require simultaneously addressing these constraints.
First, many jobseekers hold inaccurate or overly pessimistic beliefs about hiring practices. In particular, they often believe that personal connections or formal credentials are necessary to be considered for jobs, especially in commercial areas. As a result, many restrict their search to their home neighborhoods, sharply limiting their opportunity. Second, jobseekers face severe liquidity constraints. Living largely hand-to-mouth, they are unable to absorb even small short-term costs associated with search. The costs of transport to commercial areas, combined with the opportunity cost of forgoing casual work, limit both the intensity and duration of search (Franklin, 2018; Abebe et al., 2021; Banerjee and Sequeira, 2023). Third, many jobseekers lack the soft skills required for effective search. Low self-efficacy, limited resilience to rejection, and weak communication skills reduce search effort and persistence, consistent with evidence on the role of planning, counseling, and behavioral support in job search (Abel et al., 2019; Witte et al., 2025). Consistent with this, field observations indicate that many jobseekers struggle to approach employers confidently and often discontinue search after only a few rejections.
The intervention is designed to jointly relax these constraints through a multi-day “guided job search” program with three components. First, a half-day workshop provides accurate information about hiring practices in Nairobi’s commercial areas—emphasizing that firms do consider walk-in applicants without formal credentials, but that success typically requires mul- tiple applications—alongside training in resilience and professional communication, delivered through role-play. This information will be based on information collected during a survey of firms (Barker et al., 2024). Second, participants engage in 3 days of guided job search in commercial areas, working in groups of 3 accompanied by trained guides who encourage them to engage with potential employers. Third, the program provides transport subsidies and daily stipends (approximately $4) to relax liquidity constraints during the search period. The intervention is delivered by non-specialist guides with undergraduate degrees and two weeks of training, with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness and scalability.
Individuals will be randomized into receiving the treatment based on their plot of residence. Following the baseline survey, all individuals residing in the same plot will be jointly assigned to either treatment or control status. We estimate that we will have approximately 850 clusters. Individuals assigned to treatment will be scheduled to receive the intervention on a rolling basis, determined by the timing of their baseline survey. In a second stage, jobseekers will be randomly assigned to groups of three to take part in the guided job search activity together. Randomization will be done using a computer.
The commercial areas in which the guided job search activity will take place will be identified based on the firm survey conducted in Barker et al. (2024). These areas will be further partitioned into 12 zones with roughly equal numbers of large firms (defined as those with more than five employees). Each group of jobseekers will then be allocated to a zone within the commercial areas that has a relatively high concentration of businesses in the sectors they report interest in, based on the distribution of firms across zones.