While worker flow analysis has grown in importance in many countries, Austria still lacks a specific longitudinal dataset as a prerequisite to perform similar analyses. For this reason, this article provides a coherent procedure to construct a longitudinal dataset based on the rotational panel structure of the Austrian quarterly LFS from 2004 to 2014. The procedure, which is available for researcher, is grounded on the discussion of several related and important issues inherent in constructing this sort of longitudinal data: First, it deals with the construction of the quarterly-matched dataset and the quality-of-measurement of several labour market variables. Second, the paper analyses non-response as a sample selection process, and shows that the selected (quarterly-matched) dataset causes biased estimates of worker flows. Third, the article proposes an iterative raking procedure to obtain survey weights as a bias-correcting device for any future analysis. Based on these adjustments, we present unbiased time-series of worker flows and transition rates, and conclude that the employment-unemployment margin is highly sensitive to economic shocks and that the Austrian labour market is additionally shaped by large movements within the participation margin. (authors' abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

There is a growing literature studying unemployment dynamics by means of worker flow data between labor market states. This paper contributes to this literature stream by analyzing the dynamics of the Austrian unemployment rate applying novel worker flow data for 2005-2016. Our main results can be summarized along two dimensions: First, we show that worker flows between unemployment and inactivity are major determinants of unemployment fluctuations in Austria. Second, we show for the working-age population that the contribution of male worker flows to the overall variation of the unemployment rate is higher, but that this relation turns when it comes to the youth cohort. The gender differences are probably related to the early occupational and educational segregation of young men and women in Austria. The paper concludes by stressing a strong need for further empirical and theoretical research which aims to link structural differences in an economy with different responses to the business cycle. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

L'objet de cette thèse est d'appréhender les dynamiques du marché du travail. Afin d'éclairer sur les mécanismes à l'origine des variations des stocks, comme le taux de chômage, cette thèse étudie en profondeur les flux de travailleurs. En effet, les évolutions des stocks masquent un mouvement incessant de flux entre les états du marché du travail. Lorsque certains individus trouvent un emploi, d'autres perdent le leur, tandis que d'autres encore se retirent de l'activité. Dans le but d'envisager ces éventualités, la thèse propose des analyses appliquées, à partir de données d'enquête, mais aussi des analyses théoriques, basées sur des modèles macroéconomiques modernes. Les quatre essais composant cette thèse suggèrent que l'inactivité et l'accès à l'emploi ont un rôle prédominant dans l'explication du chômage français. Il apparait également que les expériences en matière de transition sur le marché du travail sont diversifiées et dépendent, dans bien des cas, des caractéristiques individuelles. Ainsi, les « moins qualifiés » subissent les trajectoires les moins favorables et les femmes voient leur probabilité de réintégrer le marché du travail se réduire en fonction du nombre d'enfants. Au niveau macroéconomique, il est montré que les flux de travailleurs ne répondent pas de la même manière aux chocs économiques. Qui plus est, l'environnement économique a un impact direct sur les flux. Les périodes d'incertitude, caractérisées par une forte imprévisibilité, modifient le comportement des agents. Les gains retirés des activités de recherche d'emploi étant réduits, moins d'individus souhaitent devenir actifs. / This thesis aims at understanding labor market dynamics. In order to shed light on the mechanisms at the origin of labor market stocks, e.g. the unemployment rate, this thesis studies flows of workers. Indeed, changes in stocks hide a perpetual movement of worker flows between labor market states. When some individuals are finding a job, some others are losing their, while others are withdrawing from participation. To take into account all these alternatives, this thesis proposes applied studies, based on survey data, but also theoretical analyses, based on modern macroeconomic models. The four essays of this thesis suggest that non-participation and return to job are dominant in explaining French unemployment variations. It is also shown that, in terms of worker flows, paths are multiples and depend on individual own characteristics: “unskilled” workers accumulate difficulties on the labor market; women have lower chances of participating when their family size increases. At a macroeconomic level, this thesis shows that worker flows responses to aggregate shocks differ according to their origin. Moreover, the economic environment has a direct impact on worker flows. Times of uncertainty, characterized by a high level of unpredictability, change the behavior of economic agents. As search activities have a lower probability to be successful, fewer individuals move from non-participation to participation.