Labour Market Segmentation and the Age Structuring of Employment Opportunities for Young People

Abstract

This paper aims to advance knowledge of labour market segmentation by examining the ways in which employment opportunities for young people are structured by age. Segmentation theorists often suggest that `youth' and `adult' labour markets operate separately. In this paper I describe entry patterns within different occupational groups in order to determine whether the concept of separate labour markets is a valid one. Because of the Governments' intention to remove some of the legislative barriers to the employment of young people, this paper also attempts to assess the likely impact of such legislation by determining the extent to which barriers are a result of age rather than qualifications.