Getting a lot out of a little bit of work? The effects of marginal employment during unemployment

Abstract

Unemployed workers in Austria are allowed to top up unemployment benefits with a certain amount of earnings from employment without any benefit reduction. We do not find evidence that entering such “marginal employment” during unemployment acts as a stepping stone to regular employment. On the contrary, it tends to prolong the unemployment spell and hence reduces the time spent in regular employment within a 3-year period. Moreover, marginal employment during the unemployment spell leads to lower earnings. It inhibits the return to regular employment probably due to a high implicit tax rate on additional income.