Zitatform

Mühlböck, Monika, Fabian Kalleitner, Nadia Steiber & Bernhard Kittel (2022): Information, reflection, and successful job search. A labor market policy experiment. In: Social Policy and Administration, Jg. 56, H. 1, S. 48-72. DOI:10.1111/spol.12754

Abstract

"Jobseekers, especially young people with little experience on the job market, face several challenges. They need to know which jobs are suited for them, where to find them, how to apply, and they need resilience in the face of repeated rejections. Previous research has shown that receiving information and reflecting on how to search for a job enhance self-efficacy and search motivation, thereby reducing the duration of unemployment spells. Following up on these results, we conducted an experiment in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs which combines an “information nudge” in the form of a short video-clip with what we call “reflection nudge” in the form of an online survey. We find that a treatment combining reflection and information reduces job search duration of young unemployed people with a low level of formal education. Considering the low costs of the intervention, efficiency is very high." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Mühlböck, Monika, Nadia Steiber & Bernhard Kittel (2022): Learning to keep the faith? Further education and perceived employability among young unemployed. In: Economic and Industrial Democracy, Jg. 43, H. 2, S. 705-725. DOI:10.1177/0143831X20944211

Abstract

"To keep up job search motivation and maintain re-employment chances, it is important that unemployed individuals do not stop believing in their ability to (re)gain satisfying employment. This article examines whether further education during unemployment has a positive effect on perceived employability (i.e. the subjective assessment of one's chances to obtain the desired job), based on a panel survey of unemployed young adults in Austria. The article finds that educational activities - either on own initiative or as part of an active labor market program - indeed help to sustain or even increase perceived employability. However, only for long-term programs do the effects persist beyond the duration of the activity. This study thus identifies substantial psychological side effects of active labor market policies involving further education, which could be used to increase actual employability." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Pompili, Marco, Jochen Kluve, Jonas Jessen, Johannes Seebauer, Ginevra Gallassi & Eleonora Peruccacci (2022): Meta-analysis of the ESF counterfactual impact evaluations. Final Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 102 S. DOI:10.2767/580759

Abstract

"The study’s objective is to conduct a meta-analysis of the available ESF and YEI counterfactual impact evaluations (CIEs) implemented in the 27 Member States of the EU and the UK during the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 programming periods. The meta-analysis aims at finding systematic evidence of the effectiveness and sustainability of ESF and YEI operations. Three ESF thematic objectives (TOs) are covered, namely TO8 (Employment), TO9 (Social inclusion), and TO10 (Education and training). Importantly, this is the first study focusing exclusively on ESF/YEI interventions. The study comprises CIEs analysing effects in terms of employment and education outcomes, while it does not cover social inclusion outcomes. The results emerging from the analysis will feed the ex-post evaluation of the 2014-2020 ESF and YEI programmes. The methodology adopted can be summarized as follows. As a first step, the evaluation team identified a set of primary studies to be coded: the initial sample of CIEs was identified relying on the reports collected in the COM evaluation library and complemented with other sources, totalling 138 potential ESF/YEI CIEs. In the coding phase, CIEs were included in the meta-database if they fulfilled the following minimum criteria: clearly distinguishable treatment and control groups in the CIE report; application of some version of a (quasi-) experimental method to account for potential selection bias and time trends; use of quantitative and objective outcome(s) to measure program effectiveness, which can be compared across a larger number of studies and settings; a clear and transparent indication of the direction of the effect. The final meta-database includes variables structured into four parts: study characteristics, intervention characteristics, variables related to the empirical analysis, and other additional variables relevant to the analysis. Of the 138 CIEs in the initial sample, 94 CIEs were eventually included in the meta-database, providing a total of 882 estimates on program effectiveness, all analysing ESF/YEI intervention impacts on participants’ employment outcomes. For these 94 evaluations, a quantitative meta-analysis was carried out. 19 CIEs, exclusively or partly analyzing education outcomes, could not be coded due to the low number of primary studies and estimates available and the heterogeneity of the outcome variables used. A narrative approach was carried out for the latter to synthesize their characteristics and findings. It is important to stress that most of the evaluations analyzed in this report are related to interventions which were implemented before 2020, thus assessing interventions which were not influenced by the pandemic. The spread of Covid-19 gave rise to several new needs and rapidly changed the socio-economic contexts of countries worldwide. For this reason, the results presented in this report and the effectiveness of the support analyzed might change in the future." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Psifidou, Irene, Nikolaos Mouratoglou, Alexandra Farazouli & Cynthia Harrison (2022): Minimising early leaving from vocational education and training in Europe. Career guidance and counselling as auxiliary levers. (CEDEFOP working paper series / European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training 2022,11), Thessaloniki, 40 S. DOI:10.2801/75320

Abstract

"Career guidance and counselling are key features of comprehensive strategies aiming to reduce early leaving from education and training. They may assist students, not only in terms of decision-making but also in managing their transitions within education and training pathways or from education to employment. Minimising the risks of either insufficient information or unrealistic expectations, career guidance and counselling may support learners in making informed decisions based on their interests, talents, and future job aspirations, as well as preventing dropout and early leaving. For those who have left education and training early, career guidance and counselling may assist them to return to, and qualify in, upper secondary education. This paper examines how national policies and practices in career guidance and counselling in EU Member States may support learners at risk and early leavers from education and training. It identifies common patterns and existing information gaps, and sets out future prospects." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

"Trans-European mobility has been at the core of EU education policy since the introduction of mobility programs in the 1980s when the Erasmus and Youth for Europe programmes were introduced (in 1987 and 1988, respectively). Under the SOCRATES, Lifelong Learning Program (particularly the Leonardo and Erasmus strands) and the Erasmus+ programs mobility has become an important tool to provide young people with an experience of studying and working abroad. Significantly, the new Erasmus+ program for the 2021-27 period will have an estimated budget of EUR 26.2 billion, almost double the amount allocated to the 2014-20 programming period, with 70% of the budget dedicated to mobility.Mobility programs have demonstrated that they can have an impact on learners’ skills and competences as well as wider skills such as level of autonomy, confidence, independence, and open mindedness. In addition, a mobility period can help learners to define their future career and life choices. The evaluation of the Erasmus+ program found that participants had a shorter transition time between education and employment.4.The research on the longer-term investment of mobility programs is in its infancy, for example, with ongoing research (at the time of writing) into the cost-benefit analysis of mobility programs in Czechia. However, mobility should be considered as a longer-term investment in individuals, particularly those from vulnerable groups as they may endure less periods of unemployment compared to their peers. Historically, existing mobility programs such as the Leonardo program and Erasmus+ programs have tried to target those with fewer opportunities as part of the focus on social inclusion, but they have not been extremely successful. The category of ‘fewer opportunities’ is extremely broad and has tended to cover young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), unemployed and underemployed, people with disabilities and minorities. The mid-term evaluation of the Erasmus+ 2014-20 program found that just 11.5% of the total number of participants in Erasmus+ were disadvantaged young people. The evaluation stressed that the program needs to do more to reach out to more vulnerable young people" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

"Publication metadata ALMA (Aim-Learn-Master-Achieve) is an active inclusion initiative to empower the most vulnerable young people aged 18 to 29 who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), by implementing a tailor-made approach to support them to find a job and integrate into society. ALMA offers these young people counselling in their home country followed by a supervised, work-related learning experience in another EU Member State, with the aim of supporting their integration into the labour market and society in their home country. ALMA is one of the European Commission initiatives for the European Year of Youth 2022, and will be a key instrument in implementing the Reinforced Youth Guarantee adopted in 2020." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Andersson, Lisa & Renate Minas (2021): Reaching without outreaching: A comparative policy study of EU member states policy agenda on youth unemployment. In: International Journal of Social Welfare, Jg. 30, H. 3, S. 255-265. DOI:10.1111/ijsw.12470

Abstract

"Youth unemployment is a global issue, with supranational actors calling for policy responses, including early interventions such as outreach. This article examines how EU member states have translated the EU youth guarantee (YG) recommendation, focusing on early interventions in the form of outreach. Combining quantitative content analysis with corpus linguistics, we examined the YG implementation plans of 19 EU member states having differing institutional conditions, comparing if and how they have incorporated outreach in their policy agenda. Overall we found very little outreach in the YG-plans. In the outreach described, guidance and information on education and labour market efforts dominate, whereas social work and local level community work is largely absent. We found type of outreach to be related to institutional conditions. Our results also imply that getting member states to commit to early interventions such as outreach requires that the EU stress this issue with greater emphasis." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Anghel, Liliana-Luminita (2021): European Network of Public Employment Services: 2021 PES Capacity Questionnaire Part II: Monitoring of PES Support of the Reinforced Youth Guarantee. Survey-based Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 46 S. DOI:10.2767/738258

Abstract

"Publication metadata The EU Network of Public Employment Services (PES) is committed to supporting and monitoring the delivery of the YG and has already published several assessment reports on the PES capacity to implement the Youth Guarantee (YG). The present report, part of this monitoring activity, is focused on various qualitative aspects of PES administrative capacity to implement the reinforced YG, such as: PES partnerships and staff capacity in supporting the YG implementation; profiling and assessing the needs of NEETs; preparatory services; post-placement support provided to the young people; timescales for making an offer; and monitoring and evaluation of YG interventions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Assmann, Marie-Luise, Ida Tolgensbakk, Janikke Solstad Vedeler & Kjetil K. Bøhler (2021): Public employment services: Building social resilience in youth? In: Social Policy and Administration, Jg. 55, H. 4, S. 659-673. DOI:10.1111/spol.12649

Abstract

"It is contested to what extent public employment services (PES) help build resilience in young unemployed people. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 19 people born in Germany and Norway between 1990 and 1995, the article examines stories about how PES, in two different activation regimes, help young people find meaningful work. The analysis and discussion are carried out within a theoretical framework that combines the capability approach with social resilience literature in a novel way. The findings show that PES are portrayed as being more present in young Germans' lives. The German informants seem to feel undue pressure from PES and they describe differences between personal aims and the "placement priority" of PES. Sanctions imposed by PES were also a much more predominant topic among the German informants. The Norwegian data were dominated by stories about young people in activation programmes who had been demotivated by being trapped in a cycle of programme participation, which did not result in employment. Across the two countries, our data suggest that PES rarely build social resilience: PES provided young people with a means to survive, but rarely helped to build their capacity to overcome their difficult situation. In line with previous research, the stories of young Germans and Norwegians also emphasise the need for a PES that provides tailor-made services that build on young people's motivation and ambition. The article demonstrates that combining the capability approach with social resilience theory enables a dynamic perspective on the development of people's capabilities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Beelmann, Gert (2021): Ansätze zur psychosozialen Bewältigung von Jugendarbeitslosigkeit. In: A. Hollederer (Hrsg.) (2021): Gesundheitsförderung bei Arbeitslosen, S. 334-347.

Abstract

"Der folgende Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über verschiedene Ansätze zur Bewältigung von Jugendarbeitslosigkeit in Deutschland. In Forschung und Praxis besteht Einigkeit darüber, dass für arbeitslose Jugendliche gezielte Programme und Interventionen nötig sind, damit eine Integration in den Arbeitsmarkt gelingt. In der kurzen Einführung wird die Problematik arbeitsloser Jugendlicher verdeutlicht. Bei der Darstellung von Interventionsmaßnahmen wird auf Ergebnisse einer umfangreichen Interviewstudie Bezug genommen, in der erfolgreiche Projekte und innovative Strategien analysiert wurden. Eine wesentliche Strategie besteht darin, arbeitslose Jugendliche durch gezielte Qualifizierung und Fort- und Weiterbildung in den Arbeitsmarkt zu integrieren, wobei oftmals der Aspekt der psychosozialen Stabilisierung vernachlässigt wird. Am Beispiel von Handlungsstrategien langzeitarbeitsloser Jugendlicher wird deutlich, welche unterschiedlichen, zum Teil multiplen Problemlagen die Jugendlichen aufweisen und welche Interventionsstrategien und Maßnahmekonzeptionen sinnvoll erscheinen, um eine Arbeitsmarktintegration zu realisieren. Anhand von Projektbeispielen wird gezeigt, dass neben einer strukturellen Verankerung eines Übergangsmanagements für Jugendliche auch gezielte Angebote bereitstehen sollten, in denen die Stärkung und Förderung der seelischen Gesundheit integraler Bestandteil der Projektkonzeption ist." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Beierling, Birgit (2021): Die jugendgerechte Ausgestaltung der Jugendberufsagenturen. In: Archiv für Wissenschaft und Praxis der sozialen Arbeit, Jg. 52, H. 2, S. 64-71.

Abstract

"In diesem Beitrag wird die jugendgerechte Ausgestaltung von Jugendberufsagenturen anhand folgender Aspekte diskutiert: Zum einen geht es um die Frage, ob die Jugendberufsagenturen mit ihren Angeboten die jungen Menschen überhaupt erreichen, zum anderen werden die jugendgerechte Ausgestaltung der Beratung und Förderung sowie die Möglichkeit, Jugendliche in Jugendberufsagenturen zu beteiligen, erörtert." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © Deutscher Verein für öffentliche und private Fürsorge e.V.)

Zitatform

Broschinski, Sven & Marie-Luise Assmann (2021): The relevance of public employment services for the labour market integration of low-qualified young people – a cross-European perspective. In: European Societies, Jg. 23, H. 1, S. 46-70. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2020.1764998

Abstract

"In the wake of the Great Recession, youth labour market integration has become a central issue in both national as well as EU policy, e.g. in connection with the European Youth Guarantee. In this context, public employment services (PES) are considered central actors in promoting youth labour market integration. However, since international comparative analyses are scarce and the role of institutions and policies is thus rarely explicated, it is still an open empirical question whether and in which context PES can fulfil such a key role. Therefore, we analyse two questions based on the EU-LFS 2016 ad-hoc module: (i) How relevant is PES support to young people with different educational levels in finding a job? (ii) How do differences in the educational system and in labour market policies shape the relevance of PES support across Europe? This study illustrates that in countries with highly stratified, standardised and vocational-specific educational systems the relevance of PES is comparatively high in particular for the low-qualified. Thus, those countries have good reasons to strengthen PES to support the most disadvantaged and to combat labour market inequalities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Cahuc, Pierre, Stéphane Carcillo & Andreea Minea (2021): The difficult school-to-work transition of high school dropouts. Evidence from a field experiment. In: The Journal of Human Resources, Jg. 56, H. 1, S. 159-183. DOI:10.3368/jhr.56.1.0617-8894R2

Abstract

"This paper investigates the effects of the labor market experience of high school dropouts four years after leaving school by sending fictitious résumés to real job postings in France. Compared to those who have stayed unemployed since leaving school, the callback rate is not raised for those with employment experience, whether it is subsidized or non-subsidized, if there is no training accompanied by skill certification. We find no stigma effect associated with subsidized work experience. Moreover, training accompanied by skill certification improves youth prospects only when the local unemployment rate is sufficiently low, which occurs in one fifth of the commuting zones only." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System) ((en))

Zitatform

Consiglio, Chiara, Pietro Menatta, Laura Borgogni, Guido Alessandri, Lucia Valente & Gian Vittorio Caprara (2021): How Youth May Find Jobs: The Role of Positivity, Perceived Employability, and Support from Employment Agencies. In: Sustainability, Jg. 13, H. 16. DOI:10.3390/su13169468

Abstract

"Youth unemployment is a relevant issue among most European countries; therefore, it is important to understand its individual and situational determinants. This study aimed to investigate a conceptual model that explains the associations among positivity (POS), perceived support from employment agencies, perceived employability (PE), and employment status in a sample of 317 unemployed Italian youth involved in the Youth Guarantee program. In particular, this study investigated the relationships between POS and PE and between PE and employment. Moreover, we analyzed whether the relationship between POS and employment status was mediated by PE and whether the relationship between POS and PE was moderated by perceived support from employment agencies. Results showed that PE totally mediated the relationship between POS and employment status. Furthermore, the moderating role of perceived support from agencies was confirmed; when high, it boosted the relationship between POS and PE. In sum, this study contributes to understanding the key impact of POS on PE, as well as the role played by employment agencies as a “catalyst” of this relationship, allowing, with their support, unemployed youth to maximize their opportunity to find a job. Implications for both research and practice are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Green, Susanne, Lorenz Holthusen, Sylvia Kestner & Wolfgang Wittig (2021): Evaluation der Jugendberufsagenturen in Schleswig-Holstein. Abschlussbericht. Berlin, IV, 171 S.

Abstract

"Im Auftrag des Landes Schleswig-Holstein evaluierte das Forschungsinstitut Betriebliche Bildung (f-bb) zwischen Mai und November 2019 acht Jugendberufsagenturen. Der Fokus lag auf dem standortbezogenen Umsetzungsstand in Bezug auf die eigenen sowie die landesweiten Zielsetzungen. Dabei standen Fragen im Fokus, die sich den Themenfeldern „Zusammenarbeit mit dem jungen Menschen“, „Möglichkeiten zur individuellen und beruflichen Orientierung“ und „Wirkungen der Jugendberufsagenturen auf die Zielgruppe“ zuordnen lassen. Die Analyse umfasste Dokumente, Einzelinterviews mit den Koordinator*innen und Gruppeninterviews mit Expert*innen der jeweiligen Kooperationspartner sowie eine Online-Befragung von Führungskräften und Mitarbeitenden aus den Standorten sowie von Wirtschaftspartnern. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich eine hohe regionale Ausgestaltungsoffenheit, die sich an bereits bestehender Vernetzung, der Standortnähe zu Partnern und zur Zielgruppe, aber auch an vorhandenen Räumlichkeiten, materiellen und personellen Ressourcen sowie Verkehrsanbindungen orientiert. Zudem wird der prozessuale Charakter von Jugendberufsagenturen als „lernendes System“ herausgestellt. Die Einbindung und Qualifizierung des Personals spielt eine wesentliche Rolle, um die Akzeptanz und Wahrnehmung des Mehrwerts der JBA zu fördern. Bei der Frage nach den Wirkungen werden die jeweils vorgesehenen Indikatoren auf ihre Validität und Aussagekraft hin geprüft und kritisch kommentiert. Der Bericht enthält Hinweise zu den daraus ableitbaren Erkenntnissen zur Wirkung der Jugendberufsagenturen auf die Zielgruppe. Aufbauend auf den Ergebnissen zu den Themenfeldern werden Handlungsempfehlungen abgeleitet, um dem Auf- und Ausbau von Jugendberufsagenturen vor Ort weitere Impulse zu geben." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Haikkola, Lotta (2021): Classed and gendered transitions in youth activation. The case of Finnish youth employment services. In: Journal of Youth Studies, Jg. 24, H. 2, S. 250-266. DOI:10.1080/13676261.2020.1715358

Abstract

"This article examines the role of youth activation in reproducing classed and gendered youth transitions. A large body of research on transitions examines how structural conditions continue to pattern youth transitions in the context of detraditionalization and individualisation. What is often missing from these analyses, is the role of institutional actors and youth policies. Based on a multi-sited ethnographic research in employment services in Helsinki, Finland, this article explores the role of youth activation and welfare conditionality in NEET young people's transitions. Youth activation refers to a complex mix of employment services, prevention of social exclusion, active labour market policies and welfare conditionality. The article shows how the seemingly supportive practices provided by youth employment services channel young people to a limited number of occupational tracks at the lower end of the labour market in a gendered manner. This channelling is institutionalised in the services' organisational structures and practices, and strengthened by welfare conditionality. The consequence is a powerful institutional pattern that structures and restricts youths? transition paths." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Heilmann, Sven (2021): Keiner darf verloren gehen" - neue Chancen in Coronazeiten. Ein Erfahrungsbericht aus der Jugendberufsagentur Rostock. In: Nachrichtendienst des Deutschen Vereins für öffentliche und private Fürsorge, Jg. 101, H. 2, S. 83-85.

Abstract

"Mit dem Begriff der Coronapandemie im März 2020 entstand in der Rostocker Jugendberufsagentur, dem Jugendhaus Rostock, eine völlig neue Herausforderung für die Beratung unter einem Dach - nicht nur für die Kund/innen, sondern auch für die Mitarbeiter/innen. Für die Betreuung der Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen mussten schnell neue Wege gefunden werden, damit keine "Generation Corona" entsteht." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Kestner, Sylvia & Barbara Kiepenheuer-Drechsler (2021): Evaluierung der Jugendberufsagentur Berlin. Abschlussbericht (01.08.2020 - 31.12.2020) : Drucksache 18/3645 v. 26.04.2021. Berlin, 71 S.

Abstract

"Wie wird die Jugendberufsagentur Berlin in den zwölf regionalen Standorten umgesetzt? Welche Entwicklungsprozesse wurden seit 2016 angestoßen und welche Aspekte haben sich in der neuartigen rechtskreisübergreifenden Zusammenarbeit bewährt? Und vor allem: Wie nehmen die jungen Ratsuchenden das Beratungsangebot der JBA Berlin wahr? Dies sind nur einige der Fragestellungen, die im Rahmen der begleitenden Evaluation der JBA Berlin vom 1. Juni 2016 bis zum 31. Dezember 2020 zu beantworten waren. Der Abschlussbericht der begleitenden Evaluation ergänzt zum Stichtag 31.12.2020 vor allem die Erhebungen zur Perspektive der jungen Menschen. Erste Ergebnisse konnten bereits im dritten Zwischenbericht präsentiert werden. Mit Blick auf den langen Evaluationszeitraum werden mit diesem Bericht aber auch eine Einordnung der stattgefundenen Entwicklungen vorgenommen und abschließend Weiterentwicklungspotenziale im Kontext einer rechtskreisübergreifenden Zusammenarbeit aufgezeigt." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Menze, Laura, Malte Sandner, Silke Anger, Reinhard Pollak & Heike Solga (2021): Jugendliche aus Förderschulen mit Schwerpunkt "Lernen": Schwieriger Übergang in Ausbildung und Arbeitsmarkt. (IAB-Kurzbericht 22/2021), Nürnberg, 12 S.

Abstract

"In Deutschland wird ein vergleichsweise hoher Anteil der Schülerinnen und Schüler mit sonderpädagogischem Förderbedarf an separaten Förderschulen unterrichtet. Dort erreichen die jungen Menschen häufig keinen Schulabschluss und gehören damit zu einer am Arbeitsmarkt vulnerablen Gruppe. Deshalb wird in dem Kurzbericht untersucht, ob und wie diesen Jugendlichen der Zugang in Ausbildung und zum Arbeitsmarkt gelingt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen: Jugendliche von Förderschulen mit dem Schwerpunkt „Lernen“ finden seltener Zugang zu einer Ausbildung und erwerben bis zum Alter von 20 Jahren seltener einen Ausbildungsabschluss als Jugendliche von Regelschulen, selbst wenn sie einen vergleichbaren Schulabschluss haben." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Resnjanskij, Sven, Jens Ruhose, Simon Wiederhold & Ludger Wößmann (2021): Mentoring Improves the Labor-Market Prospects of Disadvantaged Adolescents. In: CESifo forum, Jg. 22, H. 4, S. 38-43.

Abstract

"How can the labor-market prospects of school-attending adolescents from disadvantaged families be improved? One possible approach is the use of mentoring programs that assign adolescents a mentor who can provide them with support that their family environment is not able to provide. But do such programs really help? Testing this empirically is difficult because it is unclear how these adolescents would have developed without participating in the mentoring program, since available datasets generally do not include a convincing control group of similarly disadvantaged youths. To overcome this limitation, we randomized participation in a large German mentoring program, exploiting the fact that the program was oversubscribed, i.e., had more applicants than available slots. Due to the random assignment, the adolescents who did not participate in the program provide a compelling control group for the participants. We find that the mentoring program significantly improves an index of labor-market prospects for eighth- and ninth-graders from severely disadvantaged families one year after program start. The positive effects are present for all three components of the index, which measure cognitive (math grade), non-cognitive (patience and social skills) and motivational (labor-market orientation) aspects. For disadvantaged adolescents, the expected income benefits from program participation greatly exceed program costs. In contrast, the program has no positive effects for adolescents from less disadvantaged families. The results suggest that mentoring works when it compensates for a lack of family support." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))