Abstract

his project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the “WeGebAU” program and to estimate the causal effects of in-company further training on individual labor market outcomes. The “WeGebAU” program (short for “further training for low-skilled and employed older workers in companies”) is a nationwide active labor market policy of the Federal Employment Agency to promote vocational training. The program is aimed at older and low-skilled workers who are at high risk of falling into long-term unemployment or being replaced. The unique design of the WeGebAU program, in which the size of the company and the age of the employees serve as funding criteria, allows the causal effects of funded in-company training for older and/or low-skilled employees to be determined. Depending on the size of the company or company and the age of the employee, there are differences in the funding probabilities for employees, which should be exploited as part of a regression discontinuity design. Specifically, the aim is to examine the extent to which participation in a funded further training measure causally and sustainably influences an employee's position on the labor market. This includes, for example, the probability of remaining employed in the future or of becoming unemployed or of being able to earn a higher salary in the long term.