Short- and Medium-term Impacts of Employability Training: Evidence from a Randomised Field Experiment in Rwanda

Abstract

Abstract We use a randomised field experiment to study short-term and medium-term impacts of a training intervention that aims to increase employability of Rwandan (underemployed) youths. The training includes networking and mentorship as well as modules on developing entrepreneurship, technical skills and soft social skills. We evaluate intended outcomes of the training on attitudes towards work, employability and labour market outcomes. We also consider unintended social impacts of the training. The outcomes of the intervention are modest. While on the short term the training positively impacted ‘work readiness’ and networking, we do not document significant effects on employment status or income. In the medium term, we do not find any significant effect. Non-compliance and attrition reduced statistical power of our analysis.