Black Youth Nonemployment: Duration and Job Search

79 Pages Posted: 4 Apr 2004 Last revised: 29 Dec 2022

See all articles by Harry J. Holzer

Harry J. Holzer

Georgetown University - Public Policy Institute (GPPI); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: February 1984

Abstract

This paper analyzes reservation wages and durations of nonemployment for young blacks and whites. Selfreported reservation wages are compared for blacks and whites before and after controlling for indicators of labor demand such as received wages, weeks worked, or other personal characterlstics. The effects of these reservation wages on durations of nonemployment as well as on subsequent wages are analyzed as well.The results show that young blacks seek jobs and wages which are comparable to those of young whites, but which are higher relative to what young blacks obtain. On the other hand, young blacks appear at least if not more likely to take specific low-skill jobs, albeit teporariiy. These reservation wages appear to have positive effects on nonemployment durations and subsequent wages for both groups, and explain up to a third of the higher nonemployment durations of young blacks.

Suggested Citation

Holzer, Harry J., Black Youth Nonemployment: Duration and Job Search (February 1984). NBER Working Paper No. w1276, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=321323

Harry J. Holzer (Contact Author)

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