The effectiveness of Polish active labour market policies

Abstract

The task of active labour market policies evaluation consists of providing supporting empirical evidence about which policy types promise superior solutions. This paper aims to answer this question using a quasi-experimentally method. The causal effects of labour market programmes are examined using a propensity score matching method. The information concerning the unemployed come from the Public Employment Services database Syriusz. The empirical results show that the most effective impact on employment was induced by start-up incentives and intervention works. The positive employment effects were also generated by the supply–oriented instruments of the labour market policies, i.e., by vocational training courses and placements. Placements are becoming a more attractive instrument for employers than intervention works since placements provide employees who do not need to be paid for their work.