Labor Market Concentration, Wages, and Job Security in Europe

Bassanini A, Bovini G, Caroli E, Casanova-Ferrando J, Cingano F, Falco P, Felgueroso F, Jansen M, Martins PS, Melo A, Oberfichtner M, Popp M (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Journal of Human Resources University of Wisconsin Press

Book Volume: 61

Pages Range: 817-853

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0223-12757R1

Abstract

We leverage administrative linked employer–employee data from six European countries to provide the first comparable cross-country evidence on the impact of labor market concentration on wages and job security. We find strikingly similar and relatively low wage elasticities across countries, but greater elasticities for job security, as measured by contract type. We provide suggestive evidence that the similarity of our wage elasticities and the greater sensitivity of job security to labor market concentration may be explained by the fact that sector-level collective bargaining is dominant in the countries we study and that it sets wages but usually not contract type.

Authors with CRIS profile

Michael Oberfichtner Professur für betriebliche Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung

Involved external institutions

University of Paris 9 - Paris-Dauphine / Université Paris 9 Paris-Dauphine

France (FR) University of Copenhagen

Denmark (DK) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)

Spain (ES) New University of Lisbon / Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Portugal (PT) University of Turin / Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO)

Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Bassanini, A., Bovini, G., Caroli, E., Casanova-Ferrando, J., Cingano, F., Falco, P.,... Popp, M. (2026). Labor Market Concentration, Wages, and Job Security in Europe. Journal of Human Resources, 61(3), 817-853. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0223-12757R1

MLA:

Bassanini, Andrea, et al. "Labor Market Concentration, Wages, and Job Security in Europe." Journal of Human Resources 61.3 (2026): 817-853.

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