Soft Skills, Unemployment and Job Search

Abstract

Non-cognitive skills are increasingly rewarded in labor markets, yet their role in job search and their malleability in adulthood remain unclear. We evaluate a large-scale RCT of a two-weeks soft skills training program for French job seekers. Measuring a range of non-cognitive skills, we show that some are more predictive of job search success than others. The training improves these key skills and enhances job seekers’ outcomes: they secure more full-time, open-ended contracts, report higher earnings, and are more likely to enroll in further training. Our findings highlight the potential of soft skills training in improving job match quality.