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ABSTRACT. Globalization, demographic trends and technological developments pose important challenges to European labor markets: job quality has deteriorated and precariousness has increased. Austerity measures enforced after the financial crisis have aggravated this trend. We argue that there is a case for appropriate active inclusion policies, complemented by stimulating macroeconomic policies. Using descriptive statistics and a systematic review of the literature, we propose to experiment with Job Guarantee (JG) projects. These projects could provide a macroeconomic stimulus to the economy by enabling everybody who is willing to work to take up a JG job at the minimum wage. Job guarantee projects are not a panacea to all evils. But experience shows that they could help to stop the casualization of the labor market by providing quality jobs and sustainable employment opportunities. As such, JG projects could foster inclusive labor markets. The projects should be financed by redirecting social security (administration) funds, by including JG elements in the European Investment Plan and by using part of the €80 billion which the European Central Bank (ECB) is injecting each month in the euro area. Our proposal aims to curb the labor market divide by making labor markets more “inclusive” through a solid Job Guarantee scheme. pp. 185–219
JEL codes: J48; E6; J21; J68

Keywords: inclusive labor market policies; job guarantee; sustainable employment

How to cite: Klosse, Saskia, and Joan Muysken (2016), “Curbing the Labor Market Divide by Fostering Inclusive Labor Markets through a Job Guarantee Scheme,” Psychosociological Issues in Human Resource Management 4(2): 185–219.

Received 25 May 2016 • Received in revised form 2 August 2016
Accepted 2 August 2016 • Available online 25 August 2016

doi:10.22381/PIHRM4220168

SASKIA KLOSSE
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Faculty of Law,
Maastricht University
JOAN MUYSKEN
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(corresponding author)
School of Business and Economics,
Maastricht University;
UNU-MERIT

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