Which One to Choose? Evidence on the Choice and Success of Job Search Methods

This paper empirically investigates the determinants of the choice of six different job search channels and the job search intensity, and the resulting success in terms of employment uptake of the job seeker. The channels comprise the public employment agency, advertisements in newspapers and journals, internet job search, recruitment agencies, direct applications, and personal contacts. In line with the findings for other countries, the results show that consideration of a larger number of channels raises the employment chances. The estimates of the determinants exhibit specific patterns for the choice of the single channels and the level of search intensity. The results of success of the job search channels reveal that the public employment agency is ineffective and harms the employment chances of the unemployed job seekers. In contrast, direct applications for jobs increase the employment chances.Received: February 23, 2010Accepted: November 10, 201