AbstractThe paper deals with the impacts of exchange rate uncertainty on the relationship between macroeconomic labour market variables. Under uncertainty, areas of weak reactions—so‐called ‘play’ areas—have to be considered at the macrolevel. The width of the play area is a positive function of the degree of uncertainty. When changes go beyond the play‐area suddenly strong reactions (‘spurts’) occur. These non‐linear dynamics are captured in a simplified linearized way. An algorithm describing linear play hysteresis is developed and implemented into a regression framework. As an empirical application, the exchange rate impacts on German employment are analysed considering play effects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.