The Effect of Migration Experience on Occupational Mobility in Estonia

Jaan Masso (), Raul Eamets and Pille Mõtsmees ()
Additional contact information
Pille Mõtsmees: University of Tartu

No 7482, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The existing literature on return migration has resulted in several studies analysing the impact of foreign work experience on the returnees' earnings or their decision to become self-employed; however, in this paper we analyse the less studied effect on occupational mobility – how the job in the home country after returning compares to the job held before migration. The effect of temporary migration on occupational mobility is analysed using unique data from an Estonian online job search portal covering approximately 10-15% of the total workforce, including thousands of employees with temporary migration experience. The focus on data from a Central and Eastern European country is motivated given that the opening of labour markets in old EU countries to the workforce of the new member states has led to massive East-West migration. We did not find any positive effect of temporary migration on upward occupational mobility and in some groups, such as females, the effect was negative. These results could be related to the typically short-term nature of migration and occupational downshifting abroad as well as the functioning of the home country labour market.

Keywords: Central- and Eastern Europe; temporary migration; occupational mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2013-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab, nep-mig and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - revised version published in: International Journal of Manpower, 2014, 35 (6), 753-775

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Effect of Migration Experience on Occupational Mobility in Estonia (2013)
Working Paper: THE EFFECT OF MIGRATION EXPERIENCE ON OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY IN ESTONIA (2013)
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