Job Search on Digital Platforms: A Large-Scale Experiment

Last registered on February 05, 2021
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Job Search on Digital Platforms: A Large-Scale Experiment
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0007130
Initial registration date
February 05, 2021

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
February 05, 2021, 10:04 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
Belgium
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Emilie Rademakers
Affiliation
Utrecht University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Maarten Goos
PI Affiliation
Utrecht University
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2020-04-01
End date
2022-10-08
Keywords
Labor
Additional Keywords
job search, unemployment, digital platforms, field experiment, matching
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
In this field experiment, we provide unemployed job seekers with additional information about online job search at the start of their unemployment spell. This is done in two stages. First, we provide encouragement to search actively. Second, we integrate a nudge for job seeker towards using the online job portal provided by the public employment service. Job seekers are tracked for up to 12 months. During this time, we will monitor search behavior on the platform as well as administrative records of job seekers and their job finding rates. This will give us greater insight into remaining barriers towards the use of online platforms in job search and how cost-effective nudges in communication may help lower them. Moreover, this information allows us to measure the impact of search online on the job finding rates for the treated job seekers.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Goos, Maarten and Emilie Rademakers. 2021. "Job Search on Digital Platforms: A Large-Scale Experiment." AEA RCT Registry. February 05. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.7130-1.0
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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2021-02-08
Intervention End Date
2021-08-08

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
job finding rate
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
job finding rate: the probability of finding a job within 12 months

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Our intervention consists of augmenting the existing email that is sent at the start of the unemployment spell with additional information and motivation. This is done in two steps, which we refer to as Nudge A and Nudge B. First, Nudge A consists of general information on the labour market and the importance of actively searching for a job. Second, Nudge B encourages job seekers to act by referring them directly to an existing search tool.
Job seekers are randomized at the individual level in three groups after registration. The first group is given the existing communication with administrative information only. The second group is given the extended email containing Nudge A. The third group is given the extended email containing Nudge A as well as Nudge B. Randomization occurs immediately after registration since the emails are normally sent out the following day.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
randomization done by a computer
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
44 000 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
44 000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
14 670 individuals control, 14 670 individuals in treatment 1: Nudge A, 14 670 individuals in treatment 2: Nudge A and Nudge B.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Etische Commissie Faculteit Recht, Economie, Bestuur en Organisatie
IRB Approval Date
2021-01-05
IRB Approval Number
2020-22
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials