@article{EchartiSchueringO'Donoghue2020,
  author    = {Nicolas Echarti and Esther Sch{\"u}ring and Cathal O'Donoghue},
  title     = {Effects of Vocational Re-training on Employment Outcomes Among Persons with Disabilities in Germany: A Quasi-Experiment},
  series   = {Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation},
  volume    = {30},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Springer US},
  issn      = {1053-0487},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10926-019-09866-x},
  url       = {https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1044-opus-46799},
  pages     = {221 -- 234},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Purpose To investigate how completing vocational re-training influenced income and employment days of working-age people with disabilities in the first 8 years after program admission. The investigation also included the influence of vocational re-training on the likelihood of receiving an earnings incapacity pension and on social security benefit receipt. Methods This retrospective cohort study with 8 years follow up was based on data from 2399 individuals who had completed either a 1-year vocational re-training program (n = 278), or a 2-year vocational re-training program (n = 1754) or who were admitted into re-training but never completed the program (n = 367). A propensity score-based method was used to account for observed differences and establish comparability between program graduates and program dropouts. Changes in outcomes were examined using the inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment method. Results After controlling for other factors, over the 8 years after program admission, graduates of 1-year re-training, on average, were employed for an additional 405 days, 95\% CI [249 days, 561 days], and had earned €24,260 more than without completed re-training, 95\% CI [€12,805, €35,715]. Two-year program completers, on average, were employed for 441 additional days, 95\% CI [349 days, 534 days], and had earned €35,972 more than without completed re-training, 95\% CI [€27,743, €44,202]. The programs also significantly reduced the number of days on social-security and unemployment benefits and lowered the likelihood of an earnings incapacity pension. Conclusion Policies to promote the labor market re-integration of persons with disabilities should consider that vocational re-training may be an effective tool for sustainably improving work participation outcomes.},
  language  = {en}
}