Networks and labour market processes

Abstract

"What is the significance of social networks for labour market processes? In the last 35 years, a rich research topography has arisen on many aspects of this issue. The most important 'areas' of this landscape will be explored below. It is often said about persons who are successful in their jobs that these persons only got the job or position because of contacts. There are numerous guides to networks both for looking for a job and for the successful use of networks in one's profession. An important motivation for the developers of Web 2.0 was to alleviate the maintenance and use of real networks and to allow new networks to come about, often with a clear business orientation. What role do networks play in looking for a job? To what extent do they ensure professional success? The current article begins with these questions. Having said that, it is not our intention to put forward (yet another) career guide. From the social science perspective it is much more a question of identifying the social consequences of the network processes which play a role in the above questions. What role do network processes play on the labour market in respect to social inequality or mobility? Do they lead to social isolation or do they facilitate social advancement? Are there culturally specific answers to these questions and, if so, what results do they have on the way the labour markets function? Some answers to these questions, which have been found over the last years of research, or which can be deduced from these works, are presented below." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku)

Cite article

Kropp, P. (2010): Netzwerke und Arbeitsmarktprozesse. In: C. Stegbauer & R. Häußling (Hrsg.) (2010): Handbuch Netzwerkforschung (Netzwerkforschung, 04), p. 632-646. DOI:10.1007/978-3-531-92575-2_55