Search Results

Non-standard (alternatively, flexible) employment has become common in the Netherlands, and viewed as an important weapon for combating youth unemployment. However, if such jobs are 'bad', non-standard employment becomes a matter of concern. In addition, non-standard employment may hit the least qualified, excluding them from the primary segment of the labour market, where 'good' jobs are found. [The authors] first examine whether less-educated school leavers more often end up in a job with a non-standard employment contract than the higher educated. Then, [the authors] investigate the effect of having a non-standard employment contract on job advantages in terms of wages. The data come from three large-scale Dutch school leaver surveys as held in 2001. The results show: (a) less-educated school leavers indeed are more likely to have a non-standard contract than more highly educated ones, while (b) those in non-standard employment earn less in their jobs. A substantial part of these differences can be ascribed to the segment of the labour market in which school leavers work.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less