Non-standard employment: Prospect or precarity?

This dissertation examines the consequences of non-standard employment, such as temporary contracts and on-call work, with a focus on employment and income security. By applying a process-oriented approach, a typology is presented that classifies the careers of temporary workers. T
he findings show that non-standard employment can offer both prospects and precarity, depending on the situation. Approximately 30% of temporary workers experience both job and income security, while 40% are on an uncertain career path. The research highlights the variety of career outcomes, with permanent employment not always being the best indicator of stable employment.
Additionally, this dissertation investigates factors that influence the outcomes of non-standard employment from three perspectives: economic, sociological, and human resources.
From an economic perspective, it is shown that school-leavers from specific fields of study have a higher chance of income security, while sociological research reveals that occupational skills and job conditions affect the stability of a temporary worker’s career.
From an HR perspective, employer strategies, such as using non-standard employment for screening or cost-saving purposes, play a significant role in the career outcomes of temporary workers, with screening strategies resulting in better job and income security compared to cost-reduction strategies.
Mattijssen, L. M. S. (2021). Non-standard employment: Prospect or precarity? Dissertation, VU Amsterdam, handle:1871.1/836890ef-c2f4-4acf-975d-dca221f4cb92.
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