Between the School-to-Work Transition and Street-Level Bureaucracy: A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Implementation and Perceived Outcomes of the FESF/SUS “Primeiro Emprego" Project in Bahia

Abstract

This paper evaluates the Primeiro Emprego Project (PPE/FESFSUS) in the state of Bahia, a program designed to provide temporary employment for young graduates of Professional and Technological Education (EPT) in the state civil service, focusing on its implementation and the outcomes perceived by beneficiaries and managers. This is an ex post, longitudinal, and descriptive evaluation based on primary data from surveys administered in two cycles (2025 and 2026): 711 and 879 beneficiaries, respectively, and 144 questionnaires completed by Focal Points (67 in 2025 and 77 in 2026), who serve as institutional supervisors at the program sites. The study design does not include a comparison group or a strategy for establishing causality; the analyses therefore describe self-reported perceptions and their evolution between cycles, without estimating the program's net effect. Respondents report a reduction in household income vulnerability after enrollment (the proportion of households with no income falls by about 17 percentage points over the two cycles) and greater professional confidence (92.4% in 2025 and 91.4% in 2026); the program’s target population consists primarily of women and Black individuals (82.8% and 90.0% in 2026). On the implementation side, the Focal Points evaluate the program very positively but highlight the need for more responsive communication, prior training for young people, greater clarity on the duration of employment, and reports of role deviations. The comparison with national and international experiences is treated as an analytical approach, and the managerial implications are organized into three areas: transition to the post-program phase; governance and communication; and training and follow-up.