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Statistical discrimination and employers' recruitment practices for low skilled workers
[working paper]
Corporate Editor
University of Edinburgh, Publication and Dissemination Centre (PUDISCwowe)
Abstract This paper deals with the recruitment strategies of employers in the low-skilled segment of the labour market. We focus on low-skilled workers because they are overrepresented among jobless people and constitute the bulk of the clientele included in various activation and labour market programmes. A... view more
This paper deals with the recruitment strategies of employers in the low-skilled segment of the labour market. We focus on low-skilled workers because they are overrepresented among jobless people and constitute the bulk of the clientele included in various activation and labour market programmes. A better understanding of the constraints and opportunities of interventions in this labour market segment may help improve their quality and effectiveness. On the basis of qualitative interviews with 41 employers in six European countries, we find that the traditional signals known to be used as statistical discrimination devices (old age, immigrant status and unemployment) play a somewhat reduced role, since these profiles are overrepresented among applicants for low skill positions. On the other hand, we find that other signals, mostly considered to be indicators of motivation, have a bigger impact in the selection process. These tend to concern the channel through which the contact with a prospective candidate is made. Unsolicited applications and recommendations from already employed workersemit a positive signal, whereas the fact of being referred by the public employment office is associated with the likelihood of lower motivation.... view less
Keywords
activating labor market policy; discrimination; employee; hiring; statistics; recruitment; unemployment
Classification
Human Resources Management
Labor Market Research
Free Keywords
statistical discrimination; low-skilled workers; employers' recruitment strategies
Document language
English
Publication Year
2010
City
Edinburgh
Page/Pages
26 p.
Series
Working Papers on the Reconciliation of Work and Welfare in Europe, REC-WP 10/2010
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications