The Inter-related Dynamics of Unemployment and Low Pay

This paper examines the extent of state dependence in individual unemployment and low paid employment and the inter-related dynamics between the two. Evidence is presented that (after controlling for unobserved heterogeneity and initial conditions) the low paid are more likely to become unemployed and the unemployed more likely to be low paid on re-entry to employment. The impacts of unemployment and low pay are found to be insignificantly different from one another, both on the probability of unemployment in the next period and on the probability of low pay. Evidence is presented that low paid jobs act as the main conduit for repeat unemployment and considerably increase its probability. Those who get a better paid job eliminate the increased risk of repeat unemployment.