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This article reviews active labour-market policies (ALMP), of which training is prominent. For about 20 years now, they have been one of the most important measures to combat unemployment and exclusion from the labour market. But is training a successful and efficient policy to reduce unemployment, compared to other types of ALMP? We draw some conclusions based on a review of evaluation results. We then make recommendations for designing as well as evaluating training. We underline the need for ALMP evaluations to develop an insight into 'why' training works (or not). Finally, we advocate a new approach to ALMP and training programme evaluation: a systemic evaluation of the effectiveness of a programme through its relation, interaction and complementarity with other programmes, institutions and main stakeholders in vocational education and training, employment and production.