You will work as a post-doctoral researcher within the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA), one of the research departments of Maastricht University's School of Business and Economics (SBE). ROA has a leading position nationally and internationally in research in the field of education and the labour market. You will have access and contribute to ROA and SBE’s international network of renowned scholars.

Systematic statistical evidence on platform work is currently lacking, leading to a plethora of estimates of the number of platform workers, their backgrounds and their earnings. The aim of the project is to quantify (1) the incidence of platform work in the Netherlands, (2) assess the consequences of platform work in terms of job quality (work hours, earnings, job satisfaction, social security) and (3) analyse and explain platform workers’ further job prospects (combination with other jobs, access to other employment, occupational careers). For this, you will make use of two main data sources: (1) A survey module on digital platform employment that is part of the 2022 Dutch Labour Force Survey, the largest national representative survey on the labour force in the Netherlands, conducted by Statistics Netherlands that is involved in this project. This data can be matched to Dutch administrative data, making it possible to follow individual’s employment and earnings careers over time. (2) You will field a survey among platform workers via a collaborative platform with which the research team is in contact. This makes it possible to investigate motives for engaging in platform work.

This postdoctoral project is part of  larger project on platform work and its regulation (Platform-R) funded by the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). You will be part of the consortium that works on Platform-R: https://platworkr.sites.uu.nl/. 

We are seeking a quantitative researcher with a strong affinity for platform work. Prior research in this field is a plus. You preferably meet the following criteria:

• PhD in economics, social or data science.
• Strong academic profile, demonstrated by publications in international journals, and/or other academic achievements.
• Knowledge of, and affinity, with research in the field of labour economics.
• Demonstrated interest in, and/or experience, with the topic of platform work.
• Demonstrated experienced in setting up and rolling out surveys.
• Extensive experience with quantitative research methods.
• Driven and enthusiastic team player.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

We offer a full-time position as a Postdoc (Researcher 3) for a period of 18 months. An evaluation will take place after 6 months. Working part-time is possible, and the duration of the contract will be adapted accordingly.

Expected start date: September 2023.

The salary is stipulated in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities: a minimum of €3.974 and a maximum of €5.439 per month (scale 11), depending on experience, based on a full-time position of 38 hours a week. On top of this, there is an annual holiday allowance (8% of annual income) and an annual end-of-year bonus (8.3% of annual income).

The position comes with a number of additional benefits, including:

• 41 leave days per calendar year when you decide to work 40 hours per week;
• A pension scheme;
• The option to participate in collective healthcare insurance;
• Assistance with practical matters such as residence permit for candidates unfamiliar with the Netherlands, through Maastricht University’s Knowledge Centre for International Staff;
• Applicants from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for the so-called 30% ruling, a tax cut for highly skilled migrants that applies for a maximum of five years;
• Interesting exchange possibilities of your terms of employment (e.g., bicycle scheme).   

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. 
For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.