Determinants of the Probability of Using Job Search Channels: An Application for Turkey

The effectiveness of labor market matching affects the duration and natural rate of unemployment. In return, availability and prevalence of job search channels are important determinants of the effectiveness of the matching process. This study uses the Household Labor Force Survey (2014-2019) micro data to investigate the relationship between individual characteristics and choice of job search channel. The findings from the nonlinear econometric model show the use of the Turkish Employment Agency as a job search channel to have significantly increased over time. The results also show women to be more likely to apply to the Turkish Employment Agency or to private employment offices compared to men and to be less likely to apply to employers directly and search with the help of friends. Large heterogeneity also occurs across age groups. The results show directly applying to employers to be more common among young individuals under the age of 25, and looking for a job with the help of friends and relatives to be more common among individuals over 45. Finally, those who’ve been unemployed for 3 months or more are more likely to use any job search channel compared to those who have been unemployed for less than two months.