Zeitarbeit in Deutschland: Trends und Perspektiven

Michael Christopher Burda () and Michael Kvasnicka

No SFB649DP2005-048, SFB 649 Discussion Papers from Humboldt University, Collaborative Research Center 649

Abstract: Temporary help services (THS) offer firms an additional option for flexible adjustment of employment levels. In addition, THS can facilitate new employment for both labor market entrants and job losers. This survey examines the economic significance, the changing regulatory framework, and the recent development of the THS sector in Germany. Declining wages and rising employment shares in THS are suggestive of a safety valve for the primary labor market, especially for unskilled workers. High markups charged by THS firms despite declining relative compensation of THS workers suggest a high shadow price for this form of labor input. Nevertheless, the coincidence of low and falling wages, small sector size, combined with low inflow rates and high overall fluctuation point to supply rather than demand bottlenecks as an explanation for the sector’s overall modest size.

Keywords: Zeitarbeit; temporary agency work; temporary help employment; flexible employment forms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J30 J40 J60 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
Date: 2005-09
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http://sfb649.wiwi.hu-berlin.de/papers/pdf/SFB649DP2005-048.pdf Revised version, 2005 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Zeitarbeit in Deutschland: Trends und Perspektiven (2005)
Journal Article: Zeitarbeit in Deutschland: Trends und Perspektiven (2006)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hum:wpaper:sfb649dp2005-048

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