“Do firms know what they are looking for? A Demand-Side Experiment to Reduce Matching Frictions in Ugandan Labour Markets”

Labour market mismatch remains a persistent global challenge, particularly in Uganda, where university- educated youth face high unemployment despite growing demand for skilled workers in sectors like technology and professional services. This research investigates how firms’ selective attention to job requirements may contribute to this mismatch during the hiring process. Using a model of selective attention and a randomized control trial (RCT) in Kampala, the study measures how firms’ attention to job requirements affects match quality through the channels of communication of needs and assessment of candidates. The intervention provides treated firms with a structured questionnaire to help them think more carefully about specific skills, competencies, and work activities needed for new positions. By examining how firms make hiring decisions and testing interventions to improve this process, this research aims to learn about talent-finding difficulties and provide actionable insights to enhance employer-employee matches in Uganda’s emerging sectors.

Key facts

Principal Investigator: Tess Lallemant
Email: [email protected]
Affiliation: PhD Candidate, Cornell University