Regional labour markets and processes of flexibilisation

The following paper focuses on the significance of atypical (i.e. non-standard), the so-called 'new' or flexible forms of employment in regional labour markets, a question which has rarely been considered until now. One of the reasons for this is the lack of data precise enough in detail at a regional level dealing with non-standard forms of employment. The research focus is on the restructuring processes within regional labour markets and gender-specific labour markets given the increasing presence of flexible forms of employment. Another question raised by the author is to what extent an increasing segmentation of regional and firm internal labour markets can be observed in this context. Firstly, the article discusses a concept of regional labour markets based on regulation theory which facilitates the study of flexibilisation and segmentation processes on a regional level. In this concept it is assumed that labour market flexibility, determined in. its basic framework by state regulation, the national welfare system and gender-related arrangements, is always a product of the local social and regulatory milieu in which it is embedded. The region of Stuttgart has been selected as a regional case study. As examples, the paper focuses on the increasing significance of temporary employment (fixed-term contracts and agency contracts) in industry and on the development of part-time employment in banking.