Abstract

The job search is a recurring task for people in working age. The employment changes and periods of search require constant attention to human capital and a constant setup of job skills. Search channels are essential for a properly matching (mutually satisfactory) between jobs seekers and vacancies. In our country, intermediation is largely informal but the reforms generated a continuous expansion of services and new providers. In this context, the Public Employment Services (PES) continue to play an important role, which have improved functions of vocational training and labour information, and reduced the role of placement. This article tries to quantify and identify the dimensions involved, by providing a framework of brokering in our country and the characteristics of channels' users. It also attempts to identify some of the causes of the mismatches between workers' and jobs' characteristics. The used data are drawn from a national survey on labour supply: PLUS 2008.