Comparing Innovative ‘Chosen Training’ with ‘Standard Training’ in Czechia: How Did the New Program Help?

Abstract

This paper evaluates the active labour market policy instrument called ‘chosen training’ (in Czech zvolené rekvalifikace), introduced to the Czech labour market policy in 2012. This new instrument allows the registered unemployed much more freedom to choose their supposed future career path by selecting the preferred profession for training and preferred training provider than traditional standard training programs. The added value of this paper is in the intentional linking of the provision of new measures with the assessment of impacts. The methodology of this text is based on quantitative program assessment. We used PES administrative data OK Práce for programmes implemented in 2016 and tracked the outcomes for 2016-2020. We compare a new instrument with more traditional training programs that continue to be provided alongside the new tool. We concluded that chosen training provided better results than standard training, and we addressed some of the reasons behind the perceived difference.