Employer Search: The Interviewing and Hiring of New Employees

TLDR

The study presents new evidence on employer search to fill positions, examining how training, firm size, labor market conditions, and search intensity affect hiring outcomes and wages. The analysis uses 1980 Employer Opportunity Pilot Project survey data, measuring employer search by the number of applicants interviewed before an offer and the average hours spent recruiting, screening, and interviewing per applicant.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present new evidence on employer search to fill a position. The study is based on data for recent hires collected in the 1980 Employer Opportunity Pilot Project (EOPP) survey of employers. The paper investigates the effect of factors such as training, employer size, and labor market conditions on employer search. Employer search is measured by the number of applicants interviewed prior to an employment offer and the average number of hours spent by an employer recruiting, screening, and interviewing per applicant interviewed. The paper also documents the relationship between employer search and wages.