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Job Change and Job Stability Among Less-Skilled Young Workers

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  • Harry J. Holzer
  • Robert J. LaLonde

Abstract

In this paper we review evidence from previous studies of job and employment instability among less-educated young workers, and we provide some new evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Our results indicate that early employment instability contributes somewhat to the low levels of employment observed among high school dropouts, especially females. Important determinants of job stability include the cognitive skills of the workers themselves (as measured by math test scores); current or previous experience and job tenure; and a variety of job characteristics, including starting wages, occupation and industry. Job instability among female dropouts seems to be strongly related to fertility history and marital status. Some implications for policy, especially welfare reform, are discussed as well. Click here to download the Harris School Research Summary for this paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Harry J. Holzer & Robert J. LaLonde, 1999. "Job Change and Job Stability Among Less-Skilled Young Workers," JCPR Working Papers 80, Northwestern University/University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:wop:jopovw:80
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    Cited by:

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    2. Miller, Cynthia & Porter, Kristin E., 2007. "Barriers to employment among out-of-school youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 572-587, May.
    3. Harry J. Holzer & Michael A. Stoll, 2003. "Employer Demand for Welfare Recipients by Race," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 21(1), pages 210-241, January.
    4. Fredrik Andersson & Harry J. Holzer & Julia Lane, 2009. "Temporary Help Agencies and the Advancement Prospects of Low Earners," NBER Chapters, in: Studies of Labor Market Intermediation, pages 373-398, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Guerrazzi, Marco, 2014. "Workforce ageing and the training propensity of Italian firms: cross-sectional evidence from the INDACO survey," MPRA Paper 56826, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Melissa Radey, 2008. "The Influence of Social Supports on Employment for Hispanic, Black, and White Unmarried Mothers," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 445-460, September.
    7. Joanne Lindley & Steven McIntosh, 2010. "Is the Over-Education Wage Penalty Permanent?," Working Papers 2010004, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics, revised Jan 2010.
    8. Bernhard Boockmann & Susanne Steffes, 2010. "Workers, Firms, or Institutions: What Determines Job Duration for Male Employees in Germany?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 64(1), pages 109-127, October.
    9. Cho, Rosa & LaLonde, Robert J., 2005. "The Impact of Incarceration in State Prison on the Employment Prospects of Women," IZA Discussion Papers 1792, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Eric French & Bhashkar Mazumder & Christopher Taber, 2005. "The changing pattern of wage growth for low skilled workers," Working Paper Series WP-05-24, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    11. Sigal Alon & Marta Tienda, 2005. "Job Mobility and Early Career Wage Growth of White, African‐American, and Hispanic Women," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 86(s1), pages 1196-1217, December.
    12. Jongsuk Han, 2013. "Cyclical Employment and Learning Ability," 2013 Meeting Papers 1022, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    13. Joanna Woronkowicz & Aparna Soni & Seth Freedman & Kosali Simon, 2020. "How have recent health insurance expansions affected coverage among artist occupations in the USA?," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 44(1), pages 117-154, March.
    14. Joanne Lindley & Steven McIntosh, 2008. "A Panel Data Analysis of the Incidence and Impact of Over-education," Working Papers 2008009, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics, revised Jul 2008.

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