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Firm Recruitment Behaviour: Sequential or Non-sequential Search?

Author

Listed:
  • Jos van Ommeren
  • Giovanni Russo

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="obes12027-abs-0001"> In the extensive job search literature, studies assume either sequential or non-sequential search. This article introduces a novel method to test the hypothesis that firms search sequentially based on the relationship between the number of rejected job applicants and the number of filled vacancies. We distinguish between ten different search methods. For most search methods, including methods that rely on social networks and temporary help agencies, we find that sequential search cannot be rejected. However, when firms use advertising or public/private employment agencies, sequential search is rejected. Hence, we find that both forms of search are relevant for our understanding of the labour market. Further, the form of search is closely related to the search method used.

Suggested Citation

  • Jos van Ommeren & Giovanni Russo, 2014. "Firm Recruitment Behaviour: Sequential or Non-sequential Search?," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 76(3), pages 432-455, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:obuest:v:76:y:2014:i:3:p:432-455
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/obes.2014.76.issue-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Domenico Ferraro & Giuseppe Fiori, 2018. "The Scarring Effect of Asymmetric Business Cycles," 2018 Meeting Papers 283, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    2. Xinyu Cao & Yuting Zhu, 2024. "The Power of Commitment in Group Search," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(1), pages 213-228, January.
    3. Domenico Ferraro & Giuseppe Fiori, 2023. "Nonlinear Employment Effects of Tax Policy," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 55(5), pages 1001-1042, August.
    4. Stefano Banfi & Benjamín Villena-Roldán, 2019. "Do High-Wage Jobs Attract More Applicants? Directed Search Evidence from the Online Labor Market," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 37(3), pages 715-746.
    5. Malaki, Saha & Izady, Navid & de Menezes, Lilian M., 2023. "A framework for optimal recruitment of temporary and permanent healthcare workers in highly uncertain environments," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(2), pages 768-781.
    6. Fernández-Blanco, Javier & Preugschat, Edgar, 2018. "On the effects of ranking by unemployment duration," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 92-110.
    7. Peter Kuhn & Kailing Shen, 2009. "Employers' Preferences for Gender, Age, Height and Beauty: Direct Evidence," NBER Working Papers 15564, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Manant, Matthieu & Pajak, Serge & Soulié, Nicolas, 2014. "Do recruiters 'like' it? Online social networks and privacy in hiring: a pseudo-randomized experiment," MPRA Paper 56845, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Steven J. Davis & Brenda Samaniego de la Parra, 2024. "Application Flows," NBER Working Papers 32320, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Domenico Ferraro, 2018. "The Asymmetric Cyclical Behavior of the U.S. Labor Market," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 30, pages 145-162, October.
    11. Bagger, Jesper & Fontaine, Francois & Galenianos, Manolis & Trapeznikova, Ija, 2025. "Output Fluctuations and Firm Recruitment Effort," IZA Discussion Papers 18068, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Gianluca Marcato & Lok Man Michelle Tong, 2025. "Supply Constraints and Search Equilibrium in Office Markets," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 70(2), pages 378-428, February.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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