Employment Flexibility in Spain and its Impact on Transitions to Adulthood

Abstract

In contemporary societies, the growing need for flexibility and its impact on labour markets are highly debated. The deregulation of labour markets has led to a growing proportion of workers in various atypical employment relationships, such as temporary jobs. In this respect Spain stands out, from a European perspective, as a country that has experienced a fast and intense shift from one of the most rigid employment protection systems to a highly flexible labour market with an extraordinarily high proportion of temporary employees. The Spanish labour market is highly segmented with ‘insiders’ in permanent positions, and ‘outsiders’ (unemployed and inactive) and work-insecure employees in temporary posts, particularly among youth. This article attempts to gauge the impact of increasing flexibility on transitions to adulthood in Spain. Using the Spanish European Community Household Panel, the analysis concentrates on three interrelated transitions: labour market entry, first marriage and first parenthood. Previous contributions have well elaborated the repercussions of non-employment. What makes this study distinct is the particular focus on precarious employment relationships and individuals’ perception of job security. The results give a first indication that the type of employment relationship and the perception of job security seem to matter in the studied transition processes.