This study examines the long-term effects of a standardized skills assessment test — MySkills — on the employment outcomes of jobseekers without formal vocational qualifications in Germany. In a labour market where certified qualifications are the key currency for access to stable jobs, individuals lacking such credentials face persistent structural disadvantages. This includes a large share of refugees, migrants, and native low-skilled workers who may possess substantial work experience but lack documented proof of their competencies. Public Employment Service (PES) caseworkers and employers often struggle to evaluate these jobseekers’ true abilities, leading to mismatches in job referrals and limited access to Active Labour Market Programmes (ALMPs). To address these challenges, the German Federal Employment Agency introduced MySkills—a standardised, computer-based assessment tool designed to make informally acquired skills visible. After a test phase, MySkills was fully active 2019 -2022, when low participation rates and high costs led to dropping the test. Unlike formal qualifications, MySkills does not confer certification but provides structured feedback across 30 occupational fields.
IAB Research Report 17/2025: From Assessment to Employment: The Impact of Skills Tests on Reemployment Outcomes in Germany
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