Job search and employment

In these times of increased unemployment an interesting question is Does job search help with finding a job? And the answer appears to be the obvious, yes. That at least is the finding for a new working paper Job search methods in times of crisis: native and immigrant strategies in Spain by Javier Vázquez-Grenno. The abstract reads:

This paper uses Spanish Labor Force Survey data for the period 2005 to 2010 to examine the use of job search methods and the intensity of the job search strategies of unemployed natives and immigrants. We focus on the determinants of the job search methods and search effort. Additionally, we examine the impact of the methods selected and of the search intensity on the job-finding probabilities of native and immigrant groups in a period that covers the transition from economic growth to crisis. Our findings suggest that, irrespective of the job search methods adopted, the probability of employment is higher among immigrants than it is among natives. However, this gap is closed following the onset of the current crisis in 2008. We find that most job search methods have a positive impact on the probability of finding a job, with the exception of registration at a public employment office. Search effort (measured as the number of methods adopted) seems to matter in finding work. (Emphasis added)

But note the highlighted comment. The one thing that doesn't appear to help getting a job is registration at a public employment office! The government may be here to help, it just doesn't help you get a job.