Youth employability in France : The Influence of Networks and Formal Job Search Channels

Improveyouthemployment’squalityisapriorityinFrance.Thisthesisfocusesonjobsearchandjobaccess trends,inadditiontotheroleplayedbytheinformalandformalsearchchannelsonthejobmatchingissue. It helps understanding the informal and formal channels’ efficiency and limitations in order to ameliorate youth employment as France continues to prioritize youth in its national policy agendas. This PhD work offers valuable lessons learned on "who uses what" and on "what works" better for youth employment throughthreeempiricalstudies.Thesethreestudiesareprecededbyageneralintroductionandaliterature review. The first chapter is dedicated to the analysis of the job access channel’s determinants. As part of this chapter, the effects of some factors such as origin, gender, place of residence and education are emphasized. The second chapter examines the influence of these access channels on the quality and the satisfaction with the obtained job. The third chapter focuses on the comparaison of on- and out-of-the job seekers’ preferences, search intensity and strategies. Our findings suggest a further strengthening of the role played by the public employment service as well as the role of schools as a possible recruitment channel.