This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Scherer, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Stepping-Stones or Traps?

The Consequences of Labour Market Entry Positions on Future Careers in West Germany, Great Britain and Italy

University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, stefani.scherer{at}unimib.it

This article addresses the question of whether the first job functions as a ‘stepping stone’ or as a ‘trap’. It does so by using individual longitudinal data to estimate the consequences on future occupational attainment of entry into the labour market via (a) ‘under-qualified’ jobs or (b) via temporary contracts. A cross-national comparison of West Germany, Great Britain and Italy allows assessment of the impact of different labour market structures on this allocation process. With regard to ‘under-qualified’ positions, the findings are not consistent with the stepping-stone hypothesis but provide some support for the entrapment hypothesis. Despite the greater mobility chances of over-qualified workers, the initial disadvantage associated with status-inadequate jobs is not fully overcome during their future careers. The article shows, however, that the negative effects are not due to the mismatch as such but rather to the relatively lower level positions. These effects are mediated by the national labour market structure, with the British flexible model providing the best chances of making up for initial disadvantages, and the more tightly regulated and segmented markets in Germany and Italy leading to stronger entrapment in lower status positions. No negative effects of the type of contract are found for later occupational positions in any of the countries.

Work, Employment & Society, Vol. 18, No. 2, 369-394 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/09500172004042774


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Bukodi and S. Dex Bad Start: Is There a Way Up? Gender Differences in the Effect of Initial Occupation on Early Career Mobility in Britain Eur. Sociol. Rev., June 5, 2009; (2009) jcp030v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gebel Fixed-Term Contracts at Labour Market Entry in West Germany: Implications for Job Search and First Job Quality Eur. Sociol. Rev., February 11, 2009; (2009) jcp005v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Pichler and C. Wallace What are the Reasons for Differences in Job Satisfaction across Europe? Individual, Compositional, and Institutional Explanations Eur. Sociol. Rev., December 15, 2008; (2008) jcn070v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Gash Bridge or Trap? Temporary Workers' Transitions to Unemployment and to the Standard Employment Contract Eur. Sociol. Rev., December 1, 2008; 24(5): 651 - 668. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Rainbird and M. Rose Work, Employment and Society, 1997--2007: Becoming a sociologically oriented, international, multi-disciplinary journal Work Employment Society, June 1, 2008; 22(2): 203 - 220. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. Kogan and M. Unt The Role of Vocational Specificity of Educational Credentials for Labour Market Entry in Estonia and Slovenia International Sociology, May 1, 2008; 23(3): 389 - 416. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Marchante, B. Ortega, and R. Pagan An Analysis of Educational Mismatch and Labor Mobility in the Hospitality Industry Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, August 1, 2007; 31(3): 299 - 320. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Steijn, A. Need, and M. Gesthuizen Well begun, half done?: Long-term effects of labour market entry in the Netherlands, 1950-2000 Work Employment Society, September 1, 2006; 20(3): 453 - 472. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Scherer Patterns of Labour Market Entry - Long Wait or Career Instability? An Empirical Comparison of Italy, Great Britain and West Germany Eur. Sociol. Rev., December 1, 2005; 21(5): 427 - 440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. McGinnity, A. Mertens, and S. Gundert A Bad Start? Fixed-Term Contracts and the Transition from Education to Work in West Germany Eur. Sociol. Rev., September 1, 2005; 21(4): 359 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]