Does vocational training help correct structural imbalances in the labour market? We propose a new measure of the skills distance between occupations, obtained by fine‑tuning a large language model on a sample of job offers. Using this method, we demonstrate that the “return to employment” differential between jobseekers with and without training is driven by a reallocation of workers towards occupations that are very different from their previous posts in terms of the skills required. From a purely reallocative perspective, however, the return to employment differential associated with vocational training does not appear to be driven by more jobseekers moving to occupations where employers are struggling to recruit.
This article measures discrimination in the recruitment of management assistants within the Métropole européenne de Lille (Lille European Metropolis) by combining the effects of gender, ethnic origin and address.A sample of 3,000 recruiters was drawn at random from within the companies belonging to the Métropole, to whom we sent information requests in October 2021.The fictitious applicant of North African origin received 27% fewer positive responses than the applicant of French origin.In this regard, men are only discriminated against based on their ethnic origin if they live in a priority neighbourhood for urban policy (Quartier prioritaire de la politique de la ville, QPV).The fact of living in a priority neighbourhood is advantageous for applicants of French origin, probably as a result of the recruitment bonus associated with the Emplois francs scheme, which was fully rolled out and enhanced in 2021; however, this does not benefit applicants of North African origin.These findings call for improved targeting of anti-discrimination measures to capture the populations discriminated against in disadvantaged areas.
This article measures discrimination in the recruitment of management assistants within the Métropole européenne de Lille (Lille European Metropolis) by combining the effects of gender, ethnic origin and address.A sample of 3,000 recruiters was drawn at random from within the companies belonging to the Métropole, to whom we sent information requests in October 2021.The fictitious applicant of North African origin received 27% fewer positive responses than the applicant of French origin.In this regard, men are only discriminated against based on their ethnic origin if they live in a priority neighbourhood for urban policy (Quartier prioritaire de la politique de la ville, QPV).The fact of living in a priority neighbourhood is advantageous for applicants of French origin, probably as a result of the recruitment bonus associated with the Emplois francs scheme, which was fully rolled out and enhanced in 2021; however, this does not benefit applicants of North African origin.These findings call for improved targeting of anti-discrimination measures to capture the populations discriminated against in disadvantaged areas.
