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A Multidimensional Approach to Precarious Employment Among Young Workers in EU-28 Countries

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Abstract

This article uses a new multidimensional indicator to measure precariousness among young workers across all EU-28 countries. This indicator measures both the incidence and intensity of precariousness. The analysis has involved five dimensions: wages, type of contract, type of working day, disempowerment, and job insecurity. Our database is the European Union Labour Force Survey for the period 2009–2016. The main indication of precariousness is low wages. We find high rates of precariousness for Mediterranean countries (because of low wages and temporary contracts), Denmark (low wages), and the Netherlands (expansion of involuntary part-time jobs). Central European countries have moderate rates, and most Continental and Eastern countries have low rates. We also find that a higher level of education is related to a lower probability of having a precarious job. Finally, we find a greater probability of having a precarious job among women in most countries, and non-statistically significant differences by country of birth.

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Fig. 1

Source: Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data

Fig. 2

Source: Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data

Fig. 3

Source: Authors’ calculations using the data from Eurostat (Minimum wages), MISSOC (GMI), and the adjusted multidimensional precariousness rates. The calculations related to the rates of precariousness are similar to the ones presented for the adjusted multidimensional precariousness rates

Fig. 4

Source: Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data

Fig. 5

Source Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data

Fig. 6

Source: Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data

Fig. 7

Source: Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data

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Data Availability

All data are available upon request.

Notes

  1. Different weights have been tested for all the dimensions to analyse non-uniform weighting schemes. As each dimension’s individual contribution can be analysed, if a higher weight is given to the dimensions with a higher contribution, M0 will be higher, and vice versa for the dimensions with a lower contribution. However, the results obtained in non-uniform weighting schemes have fewer variations compared to those presented in the analysis. These results are available upon request.

  2. Results at country-group level are shown in the "Appendix".

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Acknowledgements

Data provided by Eurostat for the research proposal RPP 79/2017-LFS.

Funding

This research was supported by the Junta de Castilla & León [Grant No.: SA047G19 "Low fertility and infertility"] and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [grant number: RTI2018-098455-A-C22 "Convergences and demographic divergences between natives and immigrants in Spain"]. Miguel Á. Malo acknowledges funding from the 'Junta de Castilla & León' through the research project SA049G19. G. Orfao is supported by the Junta de Castilla & León [grant "Ayudas para financiar la contratación predoctoral de personal investigador (PREDOC), co-funded by the European Social Fund"].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Communication, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Guillermo Orfao & Alberto del Rey

  2. Department of Economics and Economic History, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Miguel Á. Malo

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  1. Guillermo Orfao
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Correspondence to Guillermo Orfao.

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Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 1 and 2 and Fig. 8

Table 1 Marginal effects by five-year age brackets over the probability of having a precarious job by country (reference category: 15–20 years old), 2009–2016
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Table 2 Marginal effects of the number of hours worked over the probability of having a precarious job by country, 2009–2016
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Fig. 8
figure 8

Source: Authors’ calculations using EU-LFS data. Calculations related to the country of birth are not provided, as no statistically significant differences are found for most countries

Results at country-group level. Panel a contains the evolution of the precariousness ratio (H), panel b the evolution of the adjusted multidimensional precariousness rate (M0), panel c the odds ratios differences between low and high education levels, panel d the odds ratios differences between medium and high education levels, and panel e the evolution of gender differences as odds ratios.

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Orfao, G., del Rey, A. & Malo, M.Á. A Multidimensional Approach to Precarious Employment Among Young Workers in EU-28 Countries. Soc Indic Res 158, 1153–1178 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02734-3

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