Vocational Training Programmes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights from Experimental Studies

Experimental evaluations of vocational training programmes in low- and middle-income countries underscores their fundamental effectiveness in imparting new skills. However, this evidence offers a mixed picture on their short and long-term impacts on labour market outcomes as well as their cost-effectiveness. While more research is needed to help clarify the optimal format of such programmes, we can identify from existing evaluations promising strategies that appear likely to amplify impacts. This policy brief delineates the conditions under which vocational training programmes are more likely to yield significant positive effects on participants’ employment, income, and the empowerment of women.