Study on the position of disadvantaged groups in the labour market.

Since 2013, the "Socio-economic Monitoring" has analysed the situation of individuals with a migration background in the Belgian society in general, and in the labour market in particular. As of 2024, these analyses will be extended to multiple disadvantaged groups (e.g.,gender, age, and disability). These monitoring reports indicate several explanatory factors (e.g., field of study, family situation, etc.). What is missing, however, is a comprehensive quantitative multifactor analysis of those various factors - integrated into a model in the spirit of the traditional Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition - that limit the labour market participation of disadvantaged groups. Such an analysis should approximate differences in employment rates, the nature of work, and wages as closely as possible and identify the factors that contribute most strongly to these differences. The result will provide a better understanding of possible additional factors that either hinder or promote access to (sustainable and qualitative) employment. The aim of this study is therefore to develop a detailed quantitative analysis of the factors contributing to differences in labour market participation and wage levels among 18-64-year-olds based on i) origin, ii) gender, iii) age, iv) education level, and v) disability. Besides analyses for the most recent period, we will also examine whether significant changes have occurred in these differences over the past 10 years and assess the extent to which the changing gap over time can be explained by shifts in the composition of different groups. Consequently, four objectives are central for each of these five groups: Understanding differences in employment, (long-term) unemployment, inactivity, and the nature of employment (e.g., wage, job stability, type of employment, type of status). - Understanding differences in employment, (long-term) unemployment, inactivity, and the nature of employment (e.g., wage, job stability, type of employment, type of status). - Understanding the extent to which differences between groups have changed over the past 10 years. - Estimating the extent to which differences can be explained by a broad set of individual characteristics, household characteristics, and work-related characteristics. - Understanding the factors that have contributed to convergences/divergences in labour market outcomes over time.

Keywords:LABOUR, LABOUR FORCE PARTICPIATION, LABOUR MARKET, SOCIAL INCLUSION

Disciplines:Labour and demographic economics, Econometric and statistical methods and methodology, Race and ethnic relations, Social differentiation, stratification and social mobility