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What Do We Know about Contracting Out in the United States? Evidence from Household and Establishment Surveys

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Author Info
Matthew Dey (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Susan Houseman () (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research)
Anne Polivka (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Abstract

A variety of evidence points to significant growth in domestic contracting out over the last two decades, yet the phenomenon is not well documented. In this paper, we pull together data from various sources to shed light on the extent of and trends in domestic outsourcing, the occupations in which it has grown, and the industries engaging in outsourcing for the employment services sector, which has been a particularly important area of domestic outsourcing. In addition, we examine evidence of contracting out of selected occupations to other sectors. We point to many gaps in our knowledge on trends in domestic outsourcing and its implications for employment patterns and to inconsistencies across data sets in the information that is available. We recommend steps to improve data in this area.

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Paper provided by W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in its series Staff Working Papers with number 09-157.

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Date of creation: Sep 2009
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Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:09-157

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Related research
Keywords: contracting out; outsourcing; employment services; houseman;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
L84 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Personal, Professional, and Business Services
J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Lawrence F. Katz & Alan B. Krueger, 1999. "The High-Pressure U.S. Labor Market of the 1990s," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 30(1999-1), pages 1-88. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Bartel, Ann P & Lach, Saul & Sicherman, Nachum, 2005. "Outsourcing and Technological Change," CEPR Discussion Papers 5082, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  3. Marcello Estevao & Saul Lach, 1999. "Measuring Temporary Labor Outsourcing in U.S. Manufacturing," NBER Working Papers 7421, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  4. Brenda A. Lautsch, 2002. "Uncovering and explaining variance in the features and outcomes of contingent work," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, ILR Review, ILR School, Cornell University, vol. 56(1), pages 23-43, October.
  5. George P. Baker & Thomas N. Hubbard, 2002. "Make Versus Buy in Trucking: Asset Ownership, Job Design and Information," NBER Working Papers 8727, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Golden, Lonnie, 1996. "The Expansion of Temporary Help Employment in the US, 1982-1992: A Test of Alternative Economic Explanations," Applied Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 28(9), pages 1127-41, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. David H. Autor, 2001. "Why Do Temporary Help Firms Provide Free General Skills Training?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 116(4), pages 1409-1448, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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