Leaving welfare for work : evaluation of a French training program for social welfare recipients

There exist numerous studies on the evaluation of active labor market policies (ALMP) for unemployed job seekers. Recent experimental evidence suggests positive effects of job search assistance and counseling programs on treated individuals, while the evidence for the participation in training programs is rather mixed. For Europe, the evidence on training programs is mostly based on non-experimental studies usually and does not focus on long-term unemployed workers.

In this project, we evaluate a program for unemployed social welfare recipients which (i) supports them in defining their professional project and (ii) offers a training which corresponds to this professional project and which helps them learn or update the skills needed in the occupation and sector they want to work in.
The program “Parcours d'Entrée dans l'Emploi” (PEE) has been introduced for social welfare recipients (“Revenu de Solidarité Active”, RSA) in September 2019. The participants are usually long-term unemployed individuals who are detached from the labor market and struggle to enter stable employment paths. Moreover, being away from the labor market might lead to a breakdown of those individuals’ social bonds.
In this project, we evaluate the impact of participation in the program PEE on the probability of having a clearly defined professional project, entering (stable) employment, and the level of social inclusion. We will use rich administrative data to observe employment outcomes, transfer receipt and participation in ALMP, and combine this with survey data which allows us to – among other things - observe the professional project of the unemployed and their level of social inclusion.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation

Dubreuil, Léa et al. 2020. "Pathway to work : evaluation of a French induction program for social welfare recipients.." AEA RCT Registry. October 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6386-1.0

Former Citation

Dubreuil, Léa et al. 2020. "Pathway to work : evaluation of a French induction program for social welfare recipients.." AEA RCT Registry. October 19. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/6386/history/77977

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

We would like to know the impact of the training program PEE on the RSA (Revenu de Solidarité Active) recepients' career plan. The dispositive PEE helps the RSA recipients to find or to improve a professional project according to their skills and their needs. Thus, our study concerns RSA (Revenu de Solidarité Active) recipients in the Region Île-de-France who are interested in participating in a training program.
Amont those interested in the dispositive, we realize a random draw. They are randomly assigned to a treatment or a control group.
To answer our research questions, we follow both groups for one year, with administrative data and 3 surveys.

Intervention Start Date

2020-09-01

Intervention End Date

2022-09-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

1. Whether a rsa recipient find a job
2. Whether a rsa enter and finish a training program

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

1. In the FORCE database, we will be able to follow the career of the person (whether they find a job, the type of job, the duration of the contract etc.).
2. In the FORCE database and in the surveys, we will know all information about the training followed by the people.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)

1. Non-cognitive skills (self-control, locus of control, self-estimate, social insertion, happiness, autonomy)
2. Cognitive skills
3. Social insertion

Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

1. People will answer 3 surveys : the baseline (before the randomization), the midline (1 month after the randomization) and the endline (1 year after the randomization). In the baseline, we measure self-control and locus of control with scales. In the midline, we measure self-estimate using the Rosenberg scale. Happiness and autonomy will be asked in the endline.
2. Cognitive skills outcomes may be impacted by the sas d'entrée. It is asked in the midline.
3. Social insertion is measured with questions about time spent on daily activities (such as watch TV or meet friends) in the midline and the endline.

The answers of the surveys will be compared between the control and treatment group. Also, within a group, we will be able to see the evolution for some questions. there are going to be compared between surveys. For instance, questions on social insertion are going to be asked in the midline and the endline, in order to examine the evolution.

Experimental Design

Among the RSA recipients that are interested in the dispositive, we realize a random draw. If 2 people are oriented in the same training center in less than 7 days, they form a pair. The randomization is realized within pair in this case. If a person is oriented without forming a pair, he is drawn alone, with a 0.5 probability. Those who are assigned in the treatment group can participate to PEE. The others cannot enter into the dispositive for one year.
We then follow both groups for one year, using administrative data and 3 surveys.

Experimental Design Details

- Rsa recipient sees the social worker.
- If the social worker thinks that PEE is adapted to the rsa recipient's needs, he orientates him with a fiche de liaison into one of 23 training centers in the Region.
- Rsa recipient answers the first survey : the baseline. The social worker can help him
- Randomization takes place :
* if 2 people are oriented in the same training center in less than 7 days, they form a pair. The randomization is realized within pair in this case.
* if a person is oriented without forming a pair, he is drawn alone, with a 0.5 probability.
- Treated people can participate to PEE, the others cannot.
- If they participate to PEE, they first go to a briefing about the training program. Then they participate to the sas d'entrée, before beginning the training.
- In order to capture the impact of the sas d'entrée, the midline (second survey) takes place one month after the randomization.
- The last survey, the endline is realized one year after.
- We use the 3 surveys and administrative data to answer our research questions.

Randomization Method

Randomization done in office by a computer.

Randomization Unit

- If there are 2 inscriptions in the same training center in less than a week , there is a randomization : one is treated and the other is not.
- If there are not 2 inscriptions in less than a week, the individual is drawn with a 0.5 probability

Was the treatment clustered?

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters

23 (training centers)

Sample size: planned number of observations

2000 (recipients) * 2 (years) = 4000 (recipients)

Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms

2000 observations per occupation

Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)

Supporting Documents and Materials

IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name

Paris School of Economics

IRB Approval Date

2020-05-19

IRB Approval Number

2020-006

Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?

Data Collection Complete

Data Publication

Is public data available?

Program Files

Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Leaving welfare for work : evaluation of a French training program for social welfare recipients

Pre-Trial

General Information

Locations

Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information