This paper analyzes labour market transitions after the first job using information from the Continuous Sample of Working Histories (MCVL). We study the probability of entering the labour market through a fixedterm or an open-ended contract and then deal with the following labour market transitions in a competing risks duration model setup. The main result found is that open-ended contracts are mainly offered to skilled workers. Being a skilled worker positively affects the speed at which fixed-term contracts are transformed into open-ended contracts and negatively influences the speed at which those receiving open-ended contracts lose them. Other results are that those receiving specific “per task” contracts take longer to leave their fixed-term status, and that no significant differences are found between the stability of ordinary and employment promotion open-ended contracts.

Key words: Access to first job, temporary contracts, permanent contracts, transitions.
JEL classification: J41, J63.