Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Evidence from Turkish Household Labour Force Survey

  • Article
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Labour Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Long-term unemployment has been discussed in academic studies as a cause for both scarring effect on young people and their future. In this context, examining differences between long-term unemployed youth and adults requires a perspective that consolidates an analysis of demographic and work-related factors; however, there are a limited number of systematic works distinguishing long-term unemployment between youth and adults. To address this gap, this study aims to present a logistic regression analysis that examines the differences between youth and adults in the relationship between long-term unemployment and demographic and work-related variables, by using the micro-data from 2016 Turkish Household Labour Force Survey. The results of the study reveal that the lack of qualifications and work experience and the desire to work in full-time jobs and in semi-skill occupations, as well as the inter-regional disparities in terms of economic development, are the main driving factors that increase the likelihood of young people becoming long-term unemployed. Also, a university or postgraduate degree does not guarantee young people protection against long-term unemployment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Source: TSI, 2018

Fig. 2

Source: Calculated from 2014 and 2016 Household Labour Force Survey micro-data by the author (TSI 2014)

Fig. 3

Source: TSI, 2018

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aaronson, D., B. Mazumder, and S. Schechter. 2010. What is Behind the Rise in Long-Term Unemployment? Economic Perspectives 2Q: 28–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Acemoglu, D. 1995. Public Policy in a Model of Long-Term Unemployment. Economica 62 (246): 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albrecht, James W., Per-Anders, Edin, Marianne, Sundstrom, Susan B. Vroman. 1999. Career Interruptions and Subsequent Earnings: A Reexamination Using Swedish Data. The Journal of Human Resources 34(2): 294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assaad, R., and D. Levison. 2013. Employment for Youth—A Growing Challenge for the Global Community. Background Research Paper Commissioned for the High-Level Panel on the Post -2015 Development Agenda, University of Minnesota.

  • Baah-Boateng, W. 2016. The Youth Unemployment Challenge in Africa: What are the Drivers? The Economic and Labour Relations Review 27(4): 413–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Begum, N. 2004. Characteristics of the Short-Term and Long-Term Unemployed. Labour Market Trends, British Office for National Statistics Analysis in Brief 139–144.

  • Bell, D.N.F., and D.G. Blanchflower. 2011. Young People and the Great Recession. Oxford Review of Economic Policy 27: 241–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berlingieri, F., H. Bonin, and M. Sprietsma. 2014. Youth Unemployment in Europe Appraisal and Policy Options. ZEW and Robert Bosch Stiftung.

  • Blanchard, O.J., and P. Diamond. 1994. Ranking, Unemployment Duration, and Wages. Review of Economic Studies 61(3): 417–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Card, David, and Phillip B. Levine. 2000. Extended Benefits and the Duration of UI Spells: Evidence from the New Jersey Extended Benefit Program. Journal of Public Economics 78(1–2): 107–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devine, T.J., and N.M. Kiefer. 1991. Empirical Labor Economics: The Search Approach. Oxford University Press.

  • Ellwood, D. 1982. Teenage Unemployment: Permanent Scars or Temporary Blemishes? In The Youth Labor Market Problem: Its Nature, Causes and Consequences, ed. by Richard B. Freeman and David A. Wise, 349–390. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurofound. 2017. Long-Term Unemployed Youth: Characteristics and Policy Responses. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs, J., and E. Weber. 2015. Long-Term Unemployment and Labor Force Participation. IAB-Discussion Paper 32: 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godfrey, M. 2003. Youth Employment Policy in Developing and Transition Countries—Prevention as Well as Cure. Social Protection discussion paper series; no. SP 0320. Washington, DC: World Bank.

  • Gorlich, D., A. de Grip. 2009. Human Capital Depreciation During Hometime. Oxford Economic Papers 61(Supplement 1): i98–i121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregg, P.A., and E. Tominey. 2005. The Wage Scar from Male Youth Unemployment. Labour Economics 12: 487–509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heckman, J. and G. Borjas. 1980. Does Unemployment Cause Future Unemployment? Economica 47: 247–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornstein, A., and T.A. Lubik. 2010. The Rise in Long-Term Unemployment Potential Causes and Implications. The Federal Reserv Bank of Ricmond 2010 Annual Report 1–23.

  • Hosmer, D.W., and S. Lemeshow. 2000. Applied Logistic Regression, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • ILO. 2003. International Training Compendium on Labour Statistics, Modul 1 Statistics of Employment, Unemployment, Underemployment: Economically Active Population. Geneva, Switzerland.

  • ILO. 2015a. Long-Term Unemployment. The Key Indicators of the Labour Market: Education and Labour Market 11(KILM 11): 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • ILO. 2015b. Global Employment Trends for Youth 2015: Scaling up Investments in Decent Jobs for Youth. Geneva: International Labour Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Independent Evaluation Group (IEG). 2013. Youth Employment Programs: An Evaluation of World Bank and International Finance Corporation Support. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackman, R., and R. Layard. 1991. Does Long-Term Unemployment Reduce a Person’s Chance of a Job? A Time-Series Test. Economica 58(229): 93–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Junankar, P.N. 2015. The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Youth Unemployment. The Economic and Labour Relations Review 26(2): 191–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, L.F. 2010. Long-Term Unemployment in the Great Recession. Testimony for the Joint Economic Committee U.S. Congress 1–13.

  • Kieselbach, T., and U. Traiser. 2004. Long-Term Unemployment and the Risk of Social Exclusion among Young People in Europe: Recommendations for Activation Policies, In Are Activation Policies Converging in Europe?. The European Employment Strategy for young people. Ed. Serrano A. ETUI Brussels 415–450.

  • Krueger, A.B., J. Cramer, and D. Cho. 2014. Are the Long Term Unemployed on the Margins of the Labor Market? Brookings Papers on Economic Activity Spring: 229–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, A.B., and A. Mueller. 2011, Job Search and Job Finding in a Period of Mass Unemployment: Evidence from High-Frequency Longitudinal Data. CEPS Working Paper No. 215.

  • Lancaster, Tony. 1979. Econometric Methods for the Duration of Unemployment. Econometrica 47(4): 939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ljungqvist, L., and T.J. Sargent. 1998. The European Unemployment Dilemma. Journal of Political Economy 106(3): 514–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Llaudes, R. 2005. The Phillips Curve and Long-Term Unemployment. European Central Bank Working Paper No: 441.

  • Marelli, E., and E. Vakulenko. 2016. Youth Unemployment in Italy and Russia: Aggregate Trends and Individual Determinants. The Economic and Labour Relations Review 27(3): 387–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. 2012. Quality Apprenticeships: The Search for the Holy Grail. Paper Presented at NIESR Seminar “Understanding and Influencing Young People’s Early Labour Market Experiences,” London, England.

  • McQuaid, R.W., and C. Lindsay. 2002. The ‘Employability Gap’: Long-Term Unemployment and Barriers to Work in Buoyant Labour Markets. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 20: 613–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS). 2017. National Employment Strategy and Action Plans (2017–2019).

  • Mincer, Jacob, Haim, Ofek. 1982. Interrupted Work Careers: Depreciation and Restoration of Human Capital. The Journal of Human Resources 17(1): 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mroz, T.A., and T.H. Savage. 2006. The Long-Term Effects of Youth Unemployment. Journal of Human Resources 41(2): 259–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, C. B. 2010. Do Jobless Benefits Discourage People from Findings Jobs? Economix. Available at http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/do-jobless-benefits-discouragepeople-from-finding-jobs/. Accessed 17 July 2019.

  • Nganwa, P., D. Assefa, and P. Mbaka. 2015. The Nature and Determinants of Urban Youth Unemployment in Ethiopia. Public Policy and Administration Research 5(3): 197–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, A., J. Mitchell, and S. Lindner. 2013. Consequences of Long-Term Unemployment. The Urban Institute. Washington. D.C: 1–32.

  • Nickell, Stephen. 1979. Estimating the Probability of Leaving Unemployment. Econometrica 47(5): 1249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okun, A.M. 1962. Potential GNP: Its Measurement and Significance. In Proceedings of the Business and Economics Statistics Section, American Statistical Association, 98–103.

  • O’Reilly, J., W. Eichhorst, A. Gábos, K. Hadjivassiliou, et al. 2015. Five Characteristics of Youth Unemployment in Europe: Flexibility, Education, Migration, Family Legacies, and EU Policy. SAGE Open, 5(1): 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. 2007. Jobs for Youth. Slovak Republic: OECD Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. 2017. Employment Rate by Age Group (indicator). Available at: https://data.oecd.org. Accessed 12 Feb 2017.

  • Perovic, B. 2016. Defining Youth in Contemporary National Legal and Policy Frameworks across Europe. Analytical Paper. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.

  • Pissarides, C.A. 1992. Loss of Skill During Unemployment and the Persistence of Unemployment Shocks. Quarterly Journal of Economics 107(4): 1371–1391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, J., T. V. Wachter and S. Bender. 2009. The effects of unemployment insurance on labor supply and search outcomes: regression discontinuity estimates from Germany. Columbia University.

  • Schmitt, J., and J. Wadsworth. 1993. Unemployment Benefit Levels and Search Activity. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics 55(1): 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stratton, Leslie S. 1995. The Effect Interruptions in Work Experience Have on Wages. Southern Economic Journal 61(4): 955.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taşçı, H.M., A.R. Özdemir, and B. Darıcı. 2015. Which Group of Individuals are Subjected to Get Long-Term Unemployed During and After a Recession? Evidence from Turkey. Sosyoekonomi 23(24): 143–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • TSI. 2014. 2014 Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) microdata.

  • TSI. 2016. 2016 HLFS microdata.

  • TSI. 2017. HLFS, Analytical Framework, Concepts, Definitions, and Classifications. Available at: http://www.tuik.gov.tr/PreTablo.do?alt_id=1007. Accessed 12 Dec 2017.

  • Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI). 2018. HLFS, Statistical Tables and Dynamic Search. 2000–2016. Available at: http://www.tuik.gov.tr. Accessed 12 Dec 2017.

  • United Nations. 2013. Fact Sheet, Definition of Youth. Available at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-definition.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2017.

  • Vertot, N. 2009. Youth in Slovenia, Ljubljana. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayhan Görmüş.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that there are no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Görmüş, A. Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Evidence from Turkish Household Labour Force Survey. Ind. J. Labour Econ. 62, 341–359 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41027-019-00174-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41027-019-00174-9

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation