Recruitment, Selection, and Internal Labour Markets in Britain and Germany

Abstract

Recruitment and selection policies of firms is a largely neglected, though important, research area which provides insights into the functioning of labour markets and the social reproduction of organizations. This article is based upon comparative research conducted in Britain and German firms situated in different local labour markets. For each firm, data on selection criteria for different groups of workers, on recruitment channels and on recruitment procedures has been collected. A typology of recruitment strategies is developed which shows how environmental conditions and organizational structures influence the recruitment strategy of a firm. Depending on their market power, professional expertise and decision-making structure, firms implement different recruitment strategies which influence the type of worker who is recruited. 'Discrimi nation' in the labour market is seen as a rational decision-making process of organiza tions. It is the specific outcome of a recruitment strategy which the firm has implemented over the years.