View in EDS

A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Vocational Skills Training on Future Earnings for Unemployed Youth

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Vocational Skills Training on Future Earnings for Unemployed Youth
Language: English
Authors: Haijing Liu (ORCID 0009-0008-0163-7173), Jiangyan Xu (ORCID 0009-0002-0552-0649), Yanan Wang (ORCID 0009-0004-1647-5761), Peining Mao (ORCID 0009-0008-2613-8354), Chen Xie (ORCID 0000-0001-6124-1420), Yan Cao (ORCID 0000-0002-2698-4883)
Source: Education & Training. 2026 68(1):1-23.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Meta Analysis, Job Skills, Career and Technical Education, Unemployment, Youth Employment, Outcomes of Education, Income, Skill Development, Program Effectiveness, Literature Reviews, Developed Nations, Longitudinal Studies, Foreign Countries
DOI: 10.1108/ET-03-2025-0147
ISSN: 0040-0912
1758-6127
Abstract: Purpose: This study aims to provide comprehensive evidence on the earnings-related outcomes of vocational skills training for unemployed youth across different evaluation periods, identifying the roles of various components of training programs through the comparison of short- and long-term effects. Design/methodology/approach: A meta-analysis was conducted, systematically and quantitatively reviewing 17 youth-targeted training programs and extracting 87 effect estimates. Effect sizes of the included studies were then calculated. Findings: Overall, vocational skills training not only effectively improves participants' earnings in the short term (Hedges'g = 0.103) but also sustains positive impacts in the long term (Hedges'g = 0.045). The results of moderator analysis suggest that operating context plays a key role in shaping training effects. Across all periods, workplace-based and blended training yield positive impacts and training programs with subsidies show comparable effectiveness. However, basic skills training and soft skills training appear less likely to contribute to income growth. Finally, training programs delivered by the private sector have remained effective over time. Originality/value: Drawing on the analytical framework that integrates operating context, program design, and program implementation with evaluation periods, this meta-analysis reveals how specific components shape training effects across different time horizons, thereby addressing a critical knowledge gap in previous studies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496139
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1496139
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Vocational Skills Training on Future Earnings for Unemployed Youth
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Haijing+Liu%22">Haijing Liu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0163-7173">0009-0008-0163-7173</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiangyan+Xu%22">Jiangyan Xu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0552-0649">0009-0002-0552-0649</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yanan+Wang%22">Yanan Wang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1647-5761">0009-0004-1647-5761</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Peining+Mao%22">Peining Mao</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2613-8354">0009-0008-2613-8354</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen+Xie%22">Chen Xie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6124-1420">0000-0001-6124-1420</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yan+Cao%22">Yan Cao</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2698-4883">0000-0002-2698-4883</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Education+%26+Training%22"><i>Education & Training</i></searchLink>. 2026 68(1):1-23.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 23
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Meta+Analysis%22">Meta Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Skills%22">Job Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+and+Technical+Education%22">Career and Technical Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Unemployment%22">Unemployment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Youth+Employment%22">Youth Employment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Income%22">Income</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developed+Nations%22">Developed Nations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/ET-03-2025-0147
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0040-0912<br />1758-6127
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study aims to provide comprehensive evidence on the earnings-related outcomes of vocational skills training for unemployed youth across different evaluation periods, identifying the roles of various components of training programs through the comparison of short- and long-term effects. Design/methodology/approach: A meta-analysis was conducted, systematically and quantitatively reviewing 17 youth-targeted training programs and extracting 87 effect estimates. Effect sizes of the included studies were then calculated. Findings: Overall, vocational skills training not only effectively improves participants' earnings in the short term (Hedges'g = 0.103) but also sustains positive impacts in the long term (Hedges'g = 0.045). The results of moderator analysis suggest that operating context plays a key role in shaping training effects. Across all periods, workplace-based and blended training yield positive impacts and training programs with subsidies show comparable effectiveness. However, basic skills training and soft skills training appear less likely to contribute to income growth. Finally, training programs delivered by the private sector have remained effective over time. Originality/value: Drawing on the analytical framework that integrates operating context, program design, and program implementation with evaluation periods, this meta-analysis reveals how specific components shape training effects across different time horizons, thereby addressing a critical knowledge gap in previous studies.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1496139
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1496139
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/ET-03-2025-0147
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Meta Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Unemployment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Youth Employment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Income
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Literature Reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Developed Nations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Vocational Skills Training on Future Earnings for Unemployed Youth
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Haijing Liu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jiangyan Xu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yanan Wang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Peining Mao
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chen Xie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yan Cao
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0040-0912
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1758-6127
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 68
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Education & Training
              Type: main
ResultId 1