Temporary Help Agencies and the Advancement Prospects of Low Earners

Fredrik W. Andersson (), Harry J. Holzer () and Julia Lane
Additional contact information
Fredrik W. Andersson: Statistics Sweden
Harry J. Holzer: Georgetown University

No 3113, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: In this paper we use a very large matched database on firms and employees to analyze the use of temporary agencies by low earners, and to estimate the impact of temp employment on subsequent employment outcomes for these workers. Our results show that, while temp workers have lower earnings than others while working at these agencies, their subsequent earnings are often higher – but only if they manage to gain stable work with other employers. Furthermore, the positive effects seem mostly to occur because those working for temp agencies subsequently gain access to higher-wage firms than do comparable low earners who do not work for temps. The positive effects we find seem to persist for up to six years beyond the period during which the temp employment occurred.

Keywords: temp; employment; advancement; intermediaries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J31 J6 J62 J68 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2007-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Related works:
Chapter: Temporary Help Agencies and the Advancement Prospects of Low Earners (2009)
Working Paper: Temporary Help Agencies and the Advancement Prospects of Low Earners (2007)
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