Low-skill Work in Flux

This paper addresses the question of how far traditional assumptions about low-skilljobs are still appropriate today. Are we really dealing with activities without any particularskill requirements? How do firms proceed in filling such posts? What role isbeing played in this respect by atypical employment relationships? The analysis is basedon an evaluation of available studies on recruitment problems and low-skill jobsand case studies of recruitment into low-skill jobs in several service industries. Thereare several indications that job requirements are changing and becoming more differentiated,which would suggest that low-skill work is in a state of flux. Firms adopt arange of different recruitment strategies in order to fill such posts, among which flexibleemployment relationships and so-called mini-jobs play a role.