We use unique workplace and employee-level data to evaluate a major UK government pilot program to increase qualification-based, employer-provided training for low-qualified employees. We evaluate the program’s effect using a difference-in-differences approach. Using data on eligible employers and workers we find noevidence of a statistically significant effect on the take-up of training in the first 3 years of the program. Our results suggest that the program involved a high level of deadweight and that improving the additionality of the subsequent national program is crucial if it is to make a significant contribution toward government targets to increase qualification levels.
Authors
Erich Battistin
Research Fellow University College London
Emla Fitzsimons is a Professor of Economics at the University College London Institute of Education and a Research Fellow at the IFS.
Research Fellow University College London
Alissa is an IFS Research Fellow and a Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the UCL Institute of Education.
Helen Simpson
Research Fellow Institute for Fiscal Studies
Laura is a Research Fellow at IFS. Her current work focuses on tax and social protection policy and programme evaluation in developing countries.
Suggested citation
Abramovsky, L et al. (2011). 'Providing employers with incentives to train low-skilled workers: evidence from the U.K. employer training pilots' (2011)
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