Alexia Delfino (Bocconi University)

Unwilling to reskill? Evidence from a survey experiment with jobseekers

Joint with Evaluation Lab | Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale.

Abstract: We study demand-side barriers preventing jobseekers from pursuing reskilling in high-demand occupations. By means of a discrete choice experiment, we quantify the demand for reskilling among Italian jobseekers and investigate its main determinants. Results indicate that there is substantial heterogeneity in the intention to reskill across various jobseeker groups, but also within-group across different types of training programs. Estimates of the willingness to pay for different training features indicate that participants value positively a higher job-finding rate post-training, but on average assign no positive value to reskilling compared to generic training. Age, occupational identity, and beliefs regarding monetary and social status returns in high-demand occupations are primary factors influencing reskilling intentions. We implement two different types of policy experiments to understand how to stimulate interest in reskilling. First, we find that a light-touch randomised informational treatment is effective in increasing interest in reskilling. Second, policy simulations show that unconditional training subsidies may not lead to higher take-up of reskilling.