Brown-bag lunch: The role of prior work experience for labor market entry and spatial mobility of German graduates

The role of prior work experience for labor market entry and spatial mobility of German graduates

Dr. Anne Otto (Institute for Employment Research (IAB) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), Nuremberg)

We use administrative social security records and event history analysis to investigate the significance of prior work experience for the migration decision of German university graduates. The regression results suggest that work experience gained previously and while studying in the university region reduces the likelihood of graduates out-migrating, while extra-regional work activity enhances the probability of labor market entry outside the region of study. The size of the effect depends on the type of work experience. The findings point to the importance of knowledge about local labor markets and social networks for graduates' migration decision at the start of their career.