Matching it up: Non‐standard work and job satisfaction

Abstract

AbstractWe study the link between working arrangements and job satisfaction and provide novel insights on the (mis)match between preferred and actual working arrangements. We propose an empirical strategy to identify this mismatch at an individual level and apply this approach to data from the European Working Conditions Survey. We demonstrate that the extent of mismatch differs across European countries, and reducing the mismatch between working arrangements and workers could substantially boost overall job satisfaction. We find that the non‐standard working arrangements are less frequently mismatched among women and parents. Overall, one‐size‐fits‐all policies to deregulate or curb non‐standard working arrangements are not likely to maximize job satisfaction across Europe.