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Stepping Stones for the Unemployed: The Effect of Temporary Jobs on the Duration until Regular Work

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Listed:
  • Zijl, Marloes

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • van den Berg, Gerard J.

    (University of Groningen)

  • Heyma, Arjan

    (SEO Economic Research)

Abstract

Transitions from unemployment into temporary work are often succeeded by a transition from temporary into regular work. This paper investigates whether temporary work increases the transition rate to regular work. We use longitudinal survey data of individuals to estimate a multi-state duration model, applying the ‘timing of events’ approach. The data contain multiple spells in labour market states at the individual level. We analyse results using novel graphical representations, which unambiguously show that temporary jobs shorten the unemployment duration, although they do not increase the fraction of unemployed workers having regular work within a few years after entry into unemployment.

Suggested Citation

  • Zijl, Marloes & van den Berg, Gerard J. & Heyma, Arjan, 2004. "Stepping Stones for the Unemployed: The Effect of Temporary Jobs on the Duration until Regular Work," IZA Discussion Papers 1241, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp1241
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    treatment effect; unemployment; temporary work; fixed term contracts; job search; duration model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis; Optimal Timing Strategies

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