Labor Market Mismatch and Unemployment Durations (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs)

The SJMM has led a research project for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO (2015-2016) on labor market mismatch (i.e., the extent to which the characteristics of unemployed workers differ from vacancies in terms of occupation, geography, or education). First, we examine whether mismatch is a potential explanation for the fact that matching efficiency in the Swiss labor market has declined since the Great Recession. Second, we determine the relevant labor market for job seekers considering whether workers fill vacancies based on multiple characteristics (e.g., location and occupation) and the extent to which they consider vacancies in related occupations or nearby regions. Third, we examine whether certain groups of workers face more mismatch (e.g., are those trained through apprenticeships in those occupations with greater demand compared to those with a basic or tertiary education). Fourth, we examine how individualized labor market opportunities (i.e. the ratio of vacancies to job seekers within the individual’s occupation-geography) impact the duration of job search of the unemployed. Do certain groups (e.g., the less educated) have fewer opportunities and among those in a given occupation or region do certain groups disproportionately bear the burden of poor opportunities (e.g., migrants)?  Finally, we examine whether policy efficacy depends on labor market opportunities (e.g., subsidized jobs might be more effective when opportunities are plentiful while retraining might be better when they are scarcer).

Buchs, Helen & Marlis Buchmann. 2017. Job Vacancies and Unemployment in Switzerland 2006-2014: Labor Market Mismatch and the Significance of Labor Market Tightness for Unemployment Duration. Report on behalf of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. Zürich: Stellenmarkt-Monitor Schweiz, August 9 2017. Download (PDF, 1 MB)   Link

Buchs, Helen, Emily Murphy and Marlis Buchmann. 2017. Landing a job, sinking a career? The trade-off between occupational downgrading and quick reemployment according to unemployed jobseekers' career stage and job prospects. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility. DOI-Link