  We systematically investigate the effect heterogeneity of job search
programmes for unemployed workers. To investigate possibly heterogeneous
employment effects, we combine non-experimental causal empirical models with
Lasso-type estimators. The empirical analyses are based on rich administrative
data from Swiss social security records. We find considerable heterogeneities
only during the first six months after the start of training. Consistent with
previous results of the literature, unemployed persons with fewer employment
opportunities profit more from participating in these programmes. Furthermore,
we also document heterogeneous employment effects by residence status. Finally,
we show the potential of easy-to-implement programme participation rules for
improving average employment effects of these active labour market programmes.
