# Jobseekers’ skills and job search behaviour

## TL;DR

This study explores how jobseekers in Switzerland use their skills and search for jobs, highlighting digital and professional skill gaps and how these affect job search behavior.

## Contribution

The paper introduces novel linked survey and administrative data to analyze jobseekers’ skills and behavior in Switzerland.

## Key findings

- Women and older jobseekers are most at risk of lacking digital skills.
- Jobseekers with skill gaps adjust their search strategies to their skill profiles.
- Jobseekers are generally reluctant to accept wage losses or significant skill deviations from their last job.

## Abstract

This paper uses novel linked survey and administrative data for jobseekers in Switzerland to study jobseekers’ skills, potential skill gaps, and their job search behaviour. Based on a realized sample of survey participants that is better educated and has better employment prospect than the overall population of jobseekers, we find that women and older jobseekers are most at risk of lacking digital skills, while low education and little work experience are risk factors associated with lacking professional and interdisciplinary skills. We further document that the willingness of jobseekers to deviate from their last job in terms of skill requirements is relatively low and that they are reluctant to accept wage losses. However, jobseekers with potential skill gaps do tailor their search strategy to their skill profile. Our results provide interesting insights for policy makers and practitioners in the public employment service who seek to support jobseekers in navigating modern labour markets with rapidly changing skill requirements.