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Deconstructing job search behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Banfi, Stefano
  • Choi, Sekyu
  • Villena-Roldán, Benjamín

Abstract

Using online job board data, we study the key factors driving application decisions for unemployed and employed job seekers. We identify relevant job consideration sets using a network approach based on co-application patterns. We document how demographics and ad timing affect applications, finding evidence consistent with stock–flow matching for the unemployed. Furthermore, we show seekers respond strongly to misalignment in education, experience, wages, and location, generally applying where observable alignment is good, although employed seekers seem more ambitious, showing greater tolerance for underqualification in education and a tendency to apply for jobs above their declared wage expectations. Methodologically, we propose this network approach for defining consideration sets, helping address potential biases in standard market definitions. This evidence contributes to understanding search behavior and differences between seeker types.

Suggested Citation

  • Banfi, Stefano & Choi, Sekyu & Villena-Roldán, Benjamín, 2025. "Deconstructing job search behavior," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:97:y:2025:i:c:s0927537125001460
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2025.102822
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    2. Jonas Fluchtmann & Anita M. Glenny & Nikolaj A. Harmon & Jonas Maibom, 2024. "The Gender Application Gap: Do Men and Women Apply for the Same Jobs?," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 182-219, May.
    3. Suguru Otani, 2024. "Nonparametric Estimation of Matching Efficiency and Elasticity on a Private On-the-Job Search Platform: Evidence from Japan, 2014-2024," Papers 2410.17011, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2025.
    4. Sekyu Choi & Benjamin Villena-Roldan & Nincen Figueroa, 2025. "Posted Wage Cyclicality: Evidence from High-Quality Vacancy Data," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 25/812, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    5. Bransch, Felix, 2021. "Job search intensity of unemployed workers and the business cycle," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    6. Choi, Sekyu & Figueroa, Nincen & Villena-Roldán, Benjamin, 2020. "Wage Cyclicality Revisited: The Role of Hiring Standards," MPRA Paper 98240, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Elisabetta Gentile & Nikita Kohli & Nivedhitha Subramanian & Zunia Tirmazee & Kate Vyborny, 2023. "Barriers to Entry: Decomposing the Gender Gap in Job Search in Urban Pakistan," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 707, Asian Development Bank.
    8. Coccia, Samantha & Gallegati, Mauro & Russo, Alberto, 2025. "Macroprudential and monetary policies to deal with inequality," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 895-912.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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