HOURS PER WEEK: 30 to 38FACULTY: Faculty of Social and Behavioural SciencesDEPARTMENT: Interdisciplinaire Sociale WetenschappenAPPLICATION DEADLINE: 8 September 2023
Job description
The department of interdisciplinary social sciences at Utrecht University seeks a postdoctoral researcher with experience in longitudinal wage modelling for the research project BARWAGE
– The importance of collective bargaining for wage setting in the European Union (2022-2024).
BARWAGE investigates the potential of collective bargaining as a tool for ensuring adequate minimum wages in the European Union. It explores the size of four wage-setting arenas: the national level, sector level wage bargaining, enterprise level wage bargaining, and individual wage-setting. BARWAGE applies quantitative and qualitative methods. Using coded data of 900 CBAs from 9 EU countries (AT, BG, CZ, EE, ES, IT, FR, NL, PT), the presence and nature of pay scales in the sectoral and enterprise collective bargaining agreements
(CBAs) are analyzed. For CBAs that include pay scales, EUROSTAT microdata are used to estimate the distribution of workers across pay scale tables. When no pay scales are found in CBAs, techniques for text extraction from CBAs are applied and interviews conducted with CBA signatories to identify alternative wage-setting arenas. To deepen the insight into the impact of collective bargaining on wages, national level data will be used to detail the wage arenas in 2 EU countries, one with and one without a statutory minimum wage (Netherlands and Italy). The consortium includes four partners, based in the Netherlands (2x), Italy and Slovakia, jointly with 11 researchers and 2 organization and communication specialists. ETUI in Brussels and the Dutch AWVN act as associate partners. Watch this introductory video for more information on BARWAGE
external link. Watch this video for more information on the CBA Database external link.
The postdoctoral researcher will work with the project leader and researchers from other project partners in the consortium (WageIndicator Foundation, Central European Labour Institute, Fondazione di Vittorio) on designing and implementing three quantitative studies interrogating the relation between collectively agree pay rates, statutory minimum wages and earned wages. This includes:
- Study 1: comparative report of pay scales and pay increases in collective agreements across nine EU countries, taking into account differences across sectors and bargaining levels. The postdoctoral researcher:
- collaborates with the international team of coders of the CBA database to ensure quality of the data.
- Takes the lead, in collaboration, with the principle investigator in the drafting of the project report on pay scales and pay increases in European collective agreements
- Assists the principle investigator in the development of the documentation of sampling procedures of the dataset
- Assist in the open source release of the anonymized CBA Database
- Study 2: comparative report on the scope of collective wage bargaining in relation to earned wages. The post-doctoral researcher:
- Collaborates with the principle investigator to develop multiple methodologies to empirically link and test the relation between pay scales in collective agreements and earned wages in cross-sectional and longitudinal microdata. This including the development of coding schemes of collective agreement pay scales and coding of a sub-set of pay scales for these methodologies, the linking of pay scale data and microdata on wages, the implementation of analyses on the linked data, and documentation in replication files.
- Takes the lead, in collaboration, with the principle investigator in the drafting of the project report on the distribution of workers across pay scales and the scope of collectively agreed pay rates.
- Collaborates with the consortium’s team of qualitative researchers to improve interpretation of pay scales in collective agreements.
- Study 3: report on the relation between earned wages and pay scales in collective agreements in the Netherlands (Dutch Quantitative case study). The postdoctoral researcher:
- Collaborates with the principle investigator, a Dutch employers’ association and the team in charge of the Italian case study in designing the Dutch case study aiming to understand the relation between the distribution of earned wages and employment with the range of pay rates negotiated in collective agreements.
- Takes the lead, in collaboration, with the principle investigator in the drafting of the project report on the Dutch case study.
- Publishing the results of the project studies in peer reviewed journals, in collaboration with the principle investigator and other researchers from the consortium.
- Participating in additional project activities.
Qualifications
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with extensive experience in both cross-sectional and quantitative modelling of wages and a proven affinity with (collective) wage-fixing processes who is capable of designing and implementing. You have:
- completed or nearly completed a PhD in sociology, social sciences, industrial relations, labor economics or a related field;
- proven expertise in cross-sectional and quantitative modelling of wages. Ability to design and implement quantitative studies independently, and experience in linking multiple datasets are an asset;
- proven affinity with the subject of (minimum) wage fixing, collective wage bargaining and/or pay systems, wage inequality, occupational and/or organizational wage inequalities. Expertise in wage inequality in the Netherlands and are an asset;
- an interest in and willingness to engage in team science and collaboration with societal stakeholders
Offer
We offer a temporary position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE) for one year in an international working environment. After positive evaluation, this can be turned into a permanent position. The gross salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience – ranges between €2,960 and €4,670 (scale 10 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.
In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions
, including an attractive retirement scheme, professional development
external link, (partly paid) parental leave, sports external link and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University external link.
About the organisation
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University
, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes
external link. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.
The faculty attaches great importance to the fact that its employees can be widely deployed in the university organization, now and in the future, to further professionalize the support of education and research. To encourage this, every employee is given the time and facilities – for example in the form of training – at some point in their career to participate in projects or work in other departments. Characteristics that the faculty considers important are involvement, the ability to collaborate and flexibility. The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park
near the historical city centre of Utrecht.
Additional information
For more information, please contact Janna Besamusca
Please note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. Our International Service Desk
(ISD) can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff
external link. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal. external link
Apply
Everyone deserves to feel at home
at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
To apply, please send your application via the ‘apply now’ button. Please include:
- a motivation letter (max. 2 pages) including a description of how you meet the job requirements and desired qualifications;
- contact details for two professional references;
- your CV (max. 6 pages).
If you know someone who is suitable for this position, please share the vacancy.
The application deadline is 8 September 2023.