Thumbnail Image
Item

Precarious employment amidst global crises: Career shocks, resources and migrants' employability

Kerti,K.A.
; 
Van Engen,M.
; 
Szabo,O.
; 
Kroon,Brigitte
; 
Bleijenbergh,I.
; 
Freese,C.
Abstract
Purpose The authors conducted 22 in-depth longitudinal interviews with 11 Hungarian migrant workers in the Dutch logistics sector, before and during the COVID-19 crisis, using thematic analysis and visual life diagrams to interpret them. Design/methodology/approach This study aims to contribute to conservation of resources theory, by exploring how global crises influence the perceived employability of migrant workers in low-wage, precarious work. Findings The authors find that resources are key in how migrants experience the valence of global crises in their careers and perceive their employability. When unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 crisis coincided with migrants' resource gain spirals, this instigated a positively valenced career shock, leading to positive perceptions of employability. Coincidence with loss spirals led to negative perceptions. Research limitations/implications The authors contribute to careers literature by showing that resources do not only help migrants cope with the impact of career shocks but also directly influence the valence of global crises in their perceived employability and careers. Originality/value Interestingly, when the COVID-19 crisis did not co-occur with migrants' resource gain and loss spirals, migrants experienced resource stress (psychological strain induced by the threat or actual loss of resources) and no significant change in their perceptions of employability.
Description
Date
2024-04-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Collections
Tilburg University Research Output Collection
Show all metadata
Files
Thumbnail Image
HRS_Kerti_Precarious_employment_amidst_global_crises_CDI_2024.pdf
Adobe PDF, 291.24 KB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Covid-19, Career shocks, Global crisis, Migrant workers, Perceived employability, Resources, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
Citation
Kerti, K A, Van Engen, M, Szabo, O, Kroon, B, Bleijenbergh, I & Freese, C 2024, 'Precarious employment amidst global crises : Career shocks, resources and migrants' employability', Career Development International, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 220-233. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-10-2023-0357
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14602/80814
Embedded videos