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Job Displacement Effects and Labor Market Sorting During COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Garita-Garita

    (Department of Economic Research, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

  • Guillermo Pastrana

    (Tolouse School of Economics)

  • Pablo Slon-Montero

    (Department of Economic Research, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of job loss on workers. Using detailed administrative data from Costa Rica, we use a clustering algorithm to group workers into types based on their employment stability and job search efficiency. Our results show that job displacement leads to persistent earning losses for workers, particularly during economic downturns such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Displaced workers are moving to more productive and higherpaying firms, especially those types with initially higher earnings potentials and stable employment histories. Nonetheless, these workers are also shifting to lower-paying occupations. The findings suggest that changes in job characteristics rather than employer characteristics should be considered to explain earning losses and labor reallocation in the aftermath of the pandemic ***Resumen: Este documento estudia los efectos de la pérdida de empleo de los trabajadores. Con datos administrativos detallados de Costa Rica, utilizamos un algoritmo de agrupación para ordenar a los trabajadores en tipos según su estabilidad laboral y eficiencia en la búsqueda de empleo. Nuestros resultados muestran que el desplazamiento laboral conduce a pérdidas de ingresos persistentes para los trabajadores, particularmente durante las recesiones económicas como la pandemia de COVID-19. Los trabajadores desplazados se trasladan a empresas más productivas y con mejor remuneración, especialmente aquellos tipos con un potencial de ingresos inicialmente más alto y con antecedentes de estabilidad laboral. No obstante, los trabajadores también se mueven hacia ocupaciones con salarios más bajos. Los hallazgos sugieren que se deben considerar los cambios en las características del trabajo en lugar de las características del empleador para explicar las pérdidas de ingresos y la reasignación laboral después de la pandemia.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Garita-Garita & Guillermo Pastrana & Pablo Slon-Montero, 2023. "Job Displacement Effects and Labor Market Sorting During COVID-19," Documentos de Trabajo 2304, Banco Central de Costa Rica.
    • Handle: RePEc:apk:doctra:2304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jarosch, Gregor, 2021. "Searching for Job Security and the Consequences of Job Loss," CEPR Discussion Papers 15814, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Hie Joo Ahn, 2016. "The Role of Observed and Unobserved Heterogeneity in the Duration of Unemployment Spells," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2016-063r1, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), revised 25 Mar 2022.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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