Learn more about LISER’s departments, shaping our contributions to societal and scientific challenges.

Discover research that examines key challenges in employment, economic trends and social dynamics within the labour market, offering valuable insights into these important areas.

Living Conditions

Engage with research that investigates the factors influencing living standards, with a focus on income distribution, housing conditions and social inclusion, providing evidence-based insights into these crucial areas.

Urban Development and Mobility

Studies urban dynamics to identify pathways of actors to stimulate sustainable urban transitions.

Appel à Communications: Les relations industrielles dans un monde du travail en mutation

Learn more about our cross-departmental programmes, which combine interdisciplinary expertise to tackle transversal challenges.

Crossing Borders

Discover how our research into the complexities of cross-border mobility is advancing knowledge, shaping policy, benefiting society and addressing global challenges.

Health and Health Systems

Engage with research dedicated to enhancing public health, improving healthcare accessibility, and promoting equitable and efficient health solutions at a global scale.

Discover LISER's initiatives, driving scientific progress and fostering meaningful collaborations with stakeholders.

Doctoral programmes

Meet a dynamic community of researchers addressing critical societal challenges through innovative and interdisciplinary studies. Our doctoral programme offers exceptional training, mentorship and opportunities to shape impactful policies and drive innovation in diverse fields.

Data Science and Simulation

The Centre of Competence for Data Science and Simulation (DSS) is a cross-departmental initiative. Our ambition is to develop infrastructure, tools and competences in in machine learning, big data, microsimulation and geoexperimentation to conduct excellent research and advise policy-makers as well as stakeholders.

cc-EXPAR - Competence Centre in Experimental and Participatory Research

The Competence Centre in Experimental and Participatory Research (EXPAR) is a cross-departmental initiative. Our ambition is to improve awareness of and skills in experimental and participatory research methods to strengthen LISER’s position at the forefront of internationally high quality, scientifically rigorous and societally relevant research.

Labour Market

Topic: Skill and career development

How education and training shape skills, employment opportunities and career paths.

About the topic

Education matters well beyond the classroom. What people study, the skills they acquire and the opportunities they have to train later in life can influence their employment, earnings and economic security. But access to these opportunities is unequal. Family circumstances, the cost of studying, social expectations and the availability of training all play a part. Why do some young people leave education early? How do students choose their field of study? Which training programmes help adult people find work or progress in their careers? And how should learning adapt as jobs and technologies change?

Our objectives

We study how people make educational choices, what prevents them from completing their studies or taking up training, and how these experiences relate to later outcomes. We assess education and labour-market programmes, including their results for people who face barriers to employment. We also examine how the financing of higher education relates to household wealth and how skills needs change across occupations. Our aim is to help public authorities and training providers understand where support is needed and which measures are most useful.

Adult students, teacher in continuing education class

Focus on

Our research starts with educational pathways. We study early school leaving, university dropout and choices of specialisation, asking how family circumstances, gender, ethnic background, expectations, and the introduction of AI may influence these decisions. We also examine the relationship between higher-education financing and household wealth, including among single parents. The Gender Game brings research on stereotypes into discussion with wider audiences.

We then follow people into vocational training and working life. Our studies examine who takes part in continuing training, how courses match labour-market needs and what happens to participants afterwards. They cover training for jobseekers, support for workers with disabilities, professional development in education and the careers of people trained on the other side of the border.

Digital skills and artificial intelligence raise further questions. Where are skills gaps concentrated? What encourages adults to enrol in training? When can AI-based tools support learning, and when does human teaching remain important? These questions guide our work with workers, jobseekers and training providers.

Questionnaire with checkboxes, filling survey form online, answer questions

Research methodologies

We use interviews and group discussions, online surveys, and administrative records that follow people through education, training and employment. International data allow us to compare educational choices and household finances across countries. Where the data permit, we examine career outcomes over several years. We also work with training providers on randomised experiments that test specific measures, such as skills feedback, course recommendations or different forms of tutoring. These experiments help us assess the causal effects of interventions. Surveys and administrative data provide the wider picture of participation, needs and inequalities.

Key Topic contributors

Bertrand Verheyden

Research Scientist

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Migration AI and skills+7 more

Eva Sierminska

Research Scientist

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Skill and career development

Laetitia Hauret

Research Associate

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Cross-border Mobility Racism & Discrimination+1 more

Blandine Lejealle

Senior Research Analyst

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Skill and career development

Carole Blond-Hanten

Researcher

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Integration & Vivre-Ensemble

Genesis Amaya Ponce

PhD Candidate

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Skill and career development

Other research activities

The Gender Game

The Gender Game brings research on gender stereotypes to wider audiences through play, discussion and shared reflection. Participants explore how stereotypes shape expectations and choices. Following the development of a digital version, a shorter format is being prepared for different audiences.

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RISE-Digital

Working with Luxembourg’s Digital Learning Hub, RISE-Digital plans to test whether feedback on AI skills and personalised course recommendations encourage adults to take up digital training. It also aims to examine the relationship between training and later employment and earnings.

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ISFPC-GELux

ISFPC-GELux examines the employment paths of people who complete vocational training in the French Grand Est region, including those who find work in Luxembourg. Linking French and Luxembourg data provides a fuller picture of their transition into employment across the border.

Labour Market

Topic: Skill and career development

How education and training shape skills, employment opportunities and career paths.

About the topic

Our objectives

Focus on

Research methodologies

Key Topic contributors

Bertrand Verheyden

Research Scientist

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Migration AI and skills+7 more

Eva Sierminska

Research Scientist

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Skill and career development

Laetitia Hauret

Research Associate

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Cross-border Mobility Racism & Discrimination+1 more

Blandine Lejealle

Senior Research Analyst

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Skill and career development

Carole Blond-Hanten

Researcher

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Integration & Vivre-Ensemble

Genesis Amaya Ponce

PhD Candidate

Connect with me:

Research portal

Topics:

Skill and career development

Other research activities

The Gender Game

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RISE-Digital

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ISFPC-GELux

MES-SH reviews the financial, training and employment support measures available to people with recognised disabilities in Luxembourg. The study provides an overview of existing support to inform discussions on its design and implementation.

ECONSPEZ examines why women and men choose different fields of specialisation in advanced economics education. It explores the possible roles of earnings prospects and other factors, contributing to research on gender differences in highly qualified careers.