Job Search Assistance for Vocational Students

Abstract

In France, vocational students face a significantly higher unemployment rate compared to apprentices who obtain the same diploma. This paper evaluates AvenirPro, a job search assistance and counseling program specifically designed for vocational students. The program consists of two components. First, caseworkers from the French Public Employment Service deliver in-class interventions during the final year of vocational schooling. These sessions aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct effective job searches and prepare for interviews. Second, the same caseworkers provide individualized support during the five months following graduation. We designed and implemented a large-scale field experiment with randomization at three levels. First, we randomly selected schools. Second, within treated schools, classes were randomly selected to participate in the group-level counseling sessions. Third, among students in treated classes, some were randomly assigned to receive post-graduation support. Our preliminary results indicate a substantial increase in employment rates six months after graduation among treated students. These effects seem to be driven by the first part of the program. Joint paper with Pierre Cahuc and Jeremy Hervelin.