Big Issue sellers get social contact and dignity out of their work, but it’s not a secure pathway out of poverty and homelessness. Social enterprises enable small steps; governments can do much more.
Focusing on the gender wage gap means we don’t address increasing insecure work. Women face both higher unemployment and underemployment rates than men.
Underemployment among young people is now at its highest in the 40 years since it has been officially counted, according to a report from the Brotherhood of St Laurence released on Monday.
Australia’s labour market does a relatively good job of accommodating the preferences of the majority of workers. But that’s not to say there’s no-one who wouldn’t prefer to work more – or less.
Many hidden obstacles confront Australia’s older workers, so what workplace changes can be made to maximise the benefits and reduce the problems of an ageing population?
The July employment report suggests the recent trend of lackluster gains in jobs and wages is continuing, and a rate hike should therefore be off the table for the time being.
The unemployment rate is one of the most closely followed macroeconomic indicators. Of importance in its own right, it tells us about the level of spare capacity in the economy and provides information…
The key question for interest rates this month is whether improving domestic demand will curb the increasing rate of unemployment and underemployment, or whether labour market weakness will persist. The…
Jobs growth is a centrepiece political promise for both political parties but nothing has been said on what type of jobs these will be. At least President Obama told Americans in his 2013 State of the…
With economic “green shoots” appearing, you might expect to see improvements in the labour market, with higher wages and lower unemployment. But don’t get the champagne out just yet: this crisis isn’t…
John Van Reenen, London School of Economics and Political Science
The UK labour market has done much better than expected since the start of the recession. Although we are suffering the worst recovery for over a century – national income has shrunk by almost 3% since…
How will we know whether or not Treasurer Wayne Swan’s federal budget is a good one? The popular test used to be pretty simple: deliver jobs for all or face the axe. Even when the old Keynesian-style full-employment…
Getting a job is a major concern for young Australians. Last year’s National Survey of Young Australians showed a large rise in the proportion of young people valuing getting a job, from 16% in 2010 to…