diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameter.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameter.java
index c800cc475..0c7af27c1 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameter.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameter.java
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public class JobParameter implements Serializable{
 	
 	@Override
 	public String toString() {
-		return parameter.toString();
+		return parameterType==ParameterType.DATE ? ""+((Date)parameter).getTime() : parameter.toString();
 	}
 	
 	public int hashCode() {
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameterTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameterTests.java
index 408209e96..e7b7481bf 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameterTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobParameterTests.java
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ public class JobParameterTests {
 		assertEquals(new Date(0L), jobParameter.getValue());
 	}
 	
+	@Test
+	public void testDateParameterToString(){
+		Date epoch = new Date(0L);
+		jobParameter = new JobParameter(epoch);
+		assertEquals("0", jobParameter.toString());
+	}
+	
 	@Test
 	public void testEquals(){
 		jobParameter = new JobParameter("test");