The value of commuting time, flexibility, and job security:: Evidence from current and recent jobseekers in Flanders

Bert Van Landeghem; Thomas Dohmen; Arne  Risa Hole; Annemarie Künn

doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102631

The value of commuting time, flexibility, and job security: Evidence from current and recent jobseekers in Flanders

Bert Van Landeghem^*, Thomas Dohmen, Arne Risa Hole , Annemarie Künn

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines jobseekers’ preferences for a variety of job attributes. It is based on a choice experiment involving 1852 clients of the Flemish Public Employment Service (PES). Respondents value flexibility (e.g., remote work and schedule flexibility), job security and social impact of the job, and require significant compensation for longer commute times. A majority (70%) would need very substantial wage increase beyond their acceptable baseline wage to compensate for less flexibility, job security or social impact. These findings enhance our understanding of labour supply decisions and can inform the design of salary packages and HR policies.

Original language	English
Article number	102631
Number of pages	12
Journal	Labour Economics
Volume	91
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102631
Publication status	Published - Dec 2024

JEL classifications

j31 - "Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials"
j32 - "Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Private Pensions"
j64 - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
j16 - "Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination"

Keywords

Reservation wage
Job search
Job amenities
Compensating differentials
Choice experiments

Access to Document

10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102631Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "The value of commuting time, flexibility, and job security:: Evidence from current and recent jobseekers in Flanders",

abstract = "This study examines jobseekers{\textquoteright} preferences for a variety of job attributes. It is based on a choice experiment involving 1852 clients of the Flemish Public Employment Service (PES). Respondents value flexibility (e.g., remote work and schedule flexibility), job security and social impact of the job, and require significant compensation for longer commute times. A majority (70%) would need very substantial wage increase beyond their acceptable baseline wage to compensate for less flexibility, job security or social impact. These findings enhance our understanding of labour supply decisions and can inform the design of salary packages and HR policies.",

keywords = "Reservation wage, Job search, Job amenities, Compensating differentials, Choice experiments",

author = "{Van Landeghem}, Bert and Thomas Dohmen and {Risa Hole}, Arne and Annemarie K{\"u}nn",

note = "Survey data (developed with co-authors, including a DCE) matched with administrative data from VDAB.",

year = "2024",

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doi = "10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102631",

language = "English",

volume = "91",

journal = "Labour Economics",

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AU - Dohmen, Thomas

AU - Risa Hole , Arne

AU - Künn, Annemarie

N1 - Survey data (developed with co-authors, including a DCE) matched with administrative data from VDAB.

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - This study examines jobseekers’ preferences for a variety of job attributes. It is based on a choice experiment involving 1852 clients of the Flemish Public Employment Service (PES). Respondents value flexibility (e.g., remote work and schedule flexibility), job security and social impact of the job, and require significant compensation for longer commute times. A majority (70%) would need very substantial wage increase beyond their acceptable baseline wage to compensate for less flexibility, job security or social impact. These findings enhance our understanding of labour supply decisions and can inform the design of salary packages and HR policies.

AB - This study examines jobseekers’ preferences for a variety of job attributes. It is based on a choice experiment involving 1852 clients of the Flemish Public Employment Service (PES). Respondents value flexibility (e.g., remote work and schedule flexibility), job security and social impact of the job, and require significant compensation for longer commute times. A majority (70%) would need very substantial wage increase beyond their acceptable baseline wage to compensate for less flexibility, job security or social impact. These findings enhance our understanding of labour supply decisions and can inform the design of salary packages and HR policies.

KW - Reservation wage

KW - Job search

KW - Job amenities

KW - Compensating differentials

KW - Choice experiments

U2 - 10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102631

DO - 10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102631

M3 - Article

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VL - 91

JO - Labour Economics

JF - Labour Economics

M1 - 102631

ER -