Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/223954 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 13512
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This article introduces the metaphor of the iceberg in the labour market. While policy in most OECD countries has historically focussed on reducing unemployment (the tip of the iceberg), the group of inactive people (below the waterline) is much larger. Therefore, we point to the clear limitations of the unemployment rate as the (single) key macro-economic indicator of the health of the labour market. A parsimonious dashboard approach utilising the unemployment-to-population ratio and the inactivity-topopulation ratio as two highly appropriate and complementary measures is defended. We show that the ratio of these two indices varies greatly between countries, which calls for different policies for different countries.
Subjects: 
employment
unemployment
inactivity
labour market policy
labour market indicators
JEL: 
J64
J08
J23
J24
J68
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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