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Using online vacancies and web surveys to analyse the labour market: a methodological inquiry

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  • Lucia Kureková
  • Miroslav Beblavý
  • Anna Thum-Thysen

Abstract

This paper discusses methodological issues arising from the use of online job vacancy data and voluntary web-based surveys to analyse the labour market. We highlight the advantages and possible disadvantages of using online data and suggest strategies for overcoming selected methodological issues. We underline the difficulties in adjusting for representativeness of online job vacancies, but nevertheless argue that this rich source of data should be exploited. JEL codes: E4, J2 Copyright Kureková et al. 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Lucia Kureková & Miroslav Beblavý & Anna Thum-Thysen, 2015. "Using online vacancies and web surveys to analyse the labour market: a methodological inquiry," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izalbr:v:4:y:2015:i:1:p:1-20:10.1186/s40172-015-0034-4
    DOI: 10.1186/s40172-015-0034-4
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    2. Brencic, Vera & McGee, Andrew, 2023. "Employers’ Demand for Personality Traits and Provision of Incentives," Working Papers 2023-14, University of Alberta, Department of Economics.
    3. Ahood Almaleh & Muhammad Ahtisham Aslam & Kawther Saeedi & Naif Radi Aljohani, 2019. "Align My Curriculum: A Framework to Bridge the Gap between Acquired University Curriculum and Required Market Skills," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Mamertino, Mariano & Sinclair, Tara M., 2019. "Migration and online job search: A gravity model approach," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 51-53.
    5. Pablo de Pedraza & Martin Guzi & Kea Tijdens, 2020. "Life Dissatisfaction and Anxiety in COVID-19 pandemic," MUNI ECON Working Papers 2020-03, Masaryk University, revised Feb 2023.
    6. Brancatelli,Calogero & Marguerie,Alicia Charlene & Koettl-Brodmann,Stefanie, 2020. "Job Creation and Demand for Skills in Kosovo : What Can We Learn from Job Portal Data?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9266, The World Bank.
    7. Tara Sinclair & Mariano Mamertino, 2016. "Online Job Search and Migration Intentions Across EU Member States," Working Papers 2016-5, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    8. Pablo de Pedraza & Martin Guzi & Kea Tijdens, 2020. "Life satisfaction of employees, labour market tightness and matching efficiency," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 42(3), pages 341-355, July.
    9. Faryna, Oleksandr & Pham, Tho & Talavera, Oleksandr & Tsapin, Andriy, 2022. "Wage and unemployment: Evidence from online job vacancy data," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 52-70.
    10. Pietro Giorgio Lovaglio, 2022. "Do job vacancies variations anticipate employment variations by sector? Some preliminary evidence from Italy," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 36(1), pages 71-93, March.
    11. Kureková, Lucia Mýtna & Žilin?íková, Zuzana, 2016. "What is the Value of Foreign Work Experience? Analysing Online CV Data in Slovakia," IZA Discussion Papers 9921, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Pietro Giorgio Lovaglio & Mario Mezzanzanica & Emilio Colombo, 2020. "Comparing time series characteristics of official and web job vacancy data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 85-98, February.
    13. Raymundo M. Campos-Vázquez & Julio César Martínez Sánchez, 2024. "Habilidades buscadas por las empresas en el mercado laboral mexicano: un análisis de las ofertas laborales publicadas en internet/Skills sought by companies in the Mexican labor market: An analysis o," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 39(2), pages 243–278-2.
    14. Natalia Shmatko & Galina Volkova, 2020. "Bridging the Skill Gap in Robotics: Global and National Environment," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, September.
    15. Piróg Danuta & Hibszer Adam, 2023. "Which Skills are the Most Prized? Analysing Monetary Value of Geographers’ Skills on the Labour Market in Six European Countries," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 42(4), pages 63-79, December.
    16. He, Chuan & Mau, Karsten & Xu, Mingzhi, 2021. "Trade Shocks and Firms Hiring Decisions: Evidence from Vacancy Postings of Chinese Firms in the Trade War," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    17. Zhou, Jinyan & Du, Ping & Zhao, Wen & Feng, Siche, 2022. "Skill requirements and remunerations in the private teacher labor market: Estimations with online advertisements in China," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    18. Kimberly Scharf & Oleksandr Talavera & Linh Vi, 2023. "Gender Differences in Returns to Beauty," Discussion Papers 23-08, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.
    19. Kalee Burns & Julie L. Hotchkiss, 2023. "The Role of Social Costs in Response to Labor Market Opportunities: Differences across Race," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 2023-7, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    20. Pedro S. Martins, 2017. "Clicking towards Mozambique's New Jobs: A research note," Working Papers 85, Queen Mary, University of London, School of Business and Management, Centre for Globalisation Research.
    21. Leonardo Fabio Morales & Carlos Ospino & Nicole Amaral, 2021. "Online Vacancies and its Role in Labor Market Performance," Borradores de Economia 1174, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internet; Job; Labour market; Methodology; Occupation; Online; Representativeness; Vacancy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E4 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor

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