Multidimensional deprivation from labor market opportunities in Armenia: evidence from 2018 and 2020

Abstract

This paper explores the multidimensional deprivation from labor market opportunities in Armenia by constructing a Quality of Employment measure. Using Labor Force Survey datasets for the years 2018 and 2020, we conduct a comparative analysis for a group of job-separated individuals. The identified dimensions of deprivation from labor market opportunities prior to and after the onset of COVID-19 are reasons for separating from a job, reasons for not looking for a job, and main obstacles in finding a job. These dimensions enable to study employee-level (supply factors) and job-related characteristics (demand factors). Our study shows that demand factors are the primary drivers of amplified deprivation in times of the pandemic. Also, we observe that the gender gap in the labor market deprivation has been increased during the pandemic, further amplified for married women. Interestingly, gender gap in deprivation is invariant to the occupational composition.