Abstract

Since the beginning of the 1990s the composition of work arrangements has changed considerably, the number of employees in nonstandard work arrangements has increased continuously. In this paper we focus on preferences and motives of nonstandard workers. We ask whether working in nonstandard arrangements is in line with employees’ preferences or whether they strive for a change of their working situation. Therefore we look at job search behaviour and reasons for job search. As a result we show that nonstandard workers are more likely to search another or further job than permanent full-time workers. Marginal part-time workers indicate the highest search intensity. Men, low qualified workers and persons without a partner tend to search most. In the last decade search intensity of nonstandard workers has grown. However, the higher search intensity at the end of the last decade does not only result from the German Labour Market Reforms but go along with a better labour market situation. Nonstandard workers searching for another or further job illustrate a great potential for the labour market policy. If appropriate arrangements and initiatives make this potential accessible, a valuable input to secure skilled manpower, to stabilise employment biographies and to support individual upward mobility will be achieved.