Trends and Determinants of Job Search Intensity of Unemployed Females: Empirical Evidence from Egypt

Abstract

The present study examines trends in unemployed females' job search intensity in Egypt in an important era of transition
away from public sector employment guarantee. It examines determinants of job search intensity of unemployed females, modeling search
intensity as the total number of job search methods used by the unemployed. The empirical analysis is based on the Egyptian Labor
Market Surveys of 1998 and 2006. A comparative descriptive approach is used to analyze the difference between males' and females'
search intensity. The study uses logistic regression analysis to examine the determinants of unemployed females' search intensity. Empirical
findings suggest that the unemployed tend to search more intensively. However, this increase hides gender differences in search intensity.
The gender gap in search intensity widened between 1998 and 2006. This gap is wider among youth than among all unemployed
workers. Examining determinants of females' search intensity reveals a significant effect of personal, household characteristics and labor
market conditions. The relationship between age and search intensity is inverted U-shaped. Education, previous work experience, and
household wealth have significant positive effects on search intensity. Females in labor markets where the unemployment rate is higher
search more intensively.