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Skill Depreciation during Unemployment: Evidence from Panel Data

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan P. Cohen
  • Andrew C. Johnston
  • Attila S. Lindner

Abstract

We use a panel of survey responses linked to administrative data in Germany to measure the depreciation of skills while workers are unemployed. Both the reemployment hazard rate and reemployment earnings steadily fall with unemployment duration, and indicators of depression and loneliness rise substantially. Despite this, we find no decline in a wide range of cognitive and noncognitive skills while workers remain unemployed. We find the same pattern in a panel of American workers. The results imply that skill depreciation in general human capital is unlikely to be a major explanation for duration dependence.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan P. Cohen & Andrew C. Johnston & Attila S. Lindner, 2023. "Skill Depreciation during Unemployment: Evidence from Panel Data," NBER Working Papers 31120, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31120
    Note: ED LS PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Zuchuat, Jeremy & Lalive, Rafael & Osikominu, Aderonke & Pesaresi, Lorenzo & Zweimüller, Josef, 2023. "Duration Dependence in Finding a Job: Applications, Interviews, and Job Offers," IZA Discussion Papers 16602, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Felder, Rahel & Frings, Hanna & Mittag, Nikolas, 2024. "How Does Potential Unemployment Insurance Benefit Duration Affect Reemployment Timing and Wages?," IZA Discussion Papers 17348, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Shisham Adhikari & Athanasios Geromichalos & Ioannis Kospentaris, 2023. "How much work experience do you need to get your first job? The macroeconomic implications of bias against labor market entrants," Working Papers 357, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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