Research

Professor Michele Pellizzari, University of Geneva

"Cognitive Training for Jobseekers: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment"
Wednesday, 25 November 2026. 15:00
Room 383 ASBS

Abstract

Cognition is likely to be important for job search, but its role is not yet well understood. We study an online field experiment with jobseekers registered at the Swiss public employment services. Participants were randomly assigned to an online cognitive training program designed to strengthen core cognitive abilities and transversal cognitive abilities relevant for job search. Combining administrative and survey data on employment and earnings, we find that access to cognitive training substantially increases employment rates and earnings while reducing reliance on transfer income. In a simple search model, these findings could arise when cognition improves search effectiveness leading to lower search effort but higher chances of employment.

Bio

Michele Pellizzari is a professor of economics at the Geneva School of Economics and Management of the University of Geneva. Before joining the University of Geneva, Michele was an Economist in the OECD Employment Analysis and Policy Division, and prior to that, he was an assistant professor of economics at Bocconi University in Milan (Italy). Michele holds a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics (London, UK) and he has visited the Economics Departments at Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley and the Vancouver School of Economics.

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First published: 26 October 2026