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Did COVID-19 Deteriorate Mismatch in the Japanese Labor Market?

Author

Listed:
  • Yudai Higashi

    (Faculty of Economics, Kyoto Sangyo University and Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, JAPAN)

  • Masaru Sasaki

    (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University, JAPAN and Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), GERMANY)

Abstract

This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic deteriorated the occupational mismatch between job seekers and vacancies in the Japanese labor market. We particularly investigate how occupational vulnerability and labor market segmentation by employment type (full-time versus part-time) affected mismatch dynamics during the pandemic. We estimate the mismatch indices across occupations by vulnerability and employment type using the method developed by Şahin et al. (2014). We find that the pandemic induced mismatch across occupations with a high risk ofinfection and occupations in which it is easy to work remotely for both full- and part-time workers. Furthermore, mismatch across occupations in which it is particularly difficult to work remotely increased for full-time workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Yudai Higashi & Masaru Sasaki, 2024. "Did COVID-19 Deteriorate Mismatch in the Japanese Labor Market?," Discussion Paper Series DP2024-29, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised Oct 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:kob:dpaper:dp2024-29
    as

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    File URL: https://www.rieb.kobe-u.ac.jp/academic/ra/dp/English/DP2024-29.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adams-Prassl, Abi & Boneva, Teodora & Golin, Marta & Rauh, Christopher, 2020. "Inequality in the impact of the coronavirus shock: Evidence from real time surveys," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
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    3. Carrillo-Tudela, Carlos & Clymo, Alex & Comunello, Camila & Jäckle, Annette & Visschers, Ludo & Zentler-Munro, David, 2023. "Search and reallocation in the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the UK," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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