Beyond public work-first support: long-term impact of a privately owned employment programme across educational levels
article
Some unemployed individuals may struggle to match their vocational skills with the current labour demand in a traditional classroom. Exploring alternative workplace approaches may be necessary. A Dutch multinational's vocational employment programme offers an alternative to traditional work-first support for vulnerable unemployed individuals, diverging from forced approaches tied to benefit receipt. This study examines the programme's long-term impact compared to work-first support by analysing post-programme job matches through observed-to-expected wage ratios while controlling for job tenure and contract types. Participants outperformed a work-first control group in improved job alignment up to 10 years. The long-term benefits on career development were particularly pronounced for those with lower education levels, while higher-educated individuals experienced better matches with extended transitions. Results underscore the value of human capital by offering them a temporary workplace in a reputable multinational firm for marginalised job seekers. Expanding such enterprise-led initiatives has the potential to disrupt precarious employment cycles, fostering lasting positive change in vulnerable workers’ careers.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1005591
Source
Journal of Industrial Relations, pp. Epub 17 January.
Pages
Epub 17 January
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