Werkloosheid in oude stadswijken

Samenvatting

The labor market position of residents of old neighborhoods in large cities in the Netherlands was investigated in 1982. Hypotheses drawn from labor market segmentation literature -- especially studies of US ghettos -- were tested. The expectation that all inhabitants of old neighborhoods (whether employed or unemployed) would differ from other citizens in their work & work history characteristics was not confirmed. Systematic differences were found between the employed & unemployed in old neighborhoods, while there were almost no differences between the unemployed in old & newer neighborhoods. Only the unemployed groups in both cases fulfilled the predictions of segmentation theory: their former work was unattractive, at a low level, & short-term; they had been unemployed several times before, were pessimistic, & felt powerless to influence their own labor market position. The long duration of their unemployment & their traditional view of labor were unexpected. Possible explanations for these results are the changed market situation since the 1960s, & cultural differences between US ghettos & Dutch city slums. 3 Schemas, 9 References. Modified HA.