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Personality and public sector employment in Finland

Author

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  • Terhi Maczulskij
  • Jutta Viinikainen

Abstract

Using long‐term Finnish register data on labor market outcomes, we examine how personality traits predict the sorting of individuals into public and private sector employment. Our findings suggest that personality‐based sectoral sorting primarily occurs during the selection of educational fields. Once education and occupation are controlled for, public sector employment is negatively related to self‐confidence among males and extraversion among females. We also find that pecuniary incentives and shifts between the sectors may partly explain these relationships. Overall, our empirical results, combined with values that we use as theoretical mechanisms, suggest that values may serve as mediators explaining our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Terhi Maczulskij & Jutta Viinikainen, 2024. "Personality and public sector employment in Finland," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 38(1), pages 122-149, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:labour:v:38:y:2024:i:1:p:122-149
    DOI: 10.1111/labr.12260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Greta Morando & Lauro Carnicelli, 2026. "Parental Preferences and the Motherhood Penalty," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 26101, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).

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