The future of work and the economic well-being of women in the Australian labour market, 1981 to 2001. Australia is in the midst of fundamental political, economic and social change leading some in the community to question the benefits of micro-economic reform. Others question the future of work; labour market projections for 2015 show more women than men in employment, raising the spectre of further social and economic change. This project aims to shed some light on the debate over the future ....The future of work and the economic well-being of women in the Australian labour market, 1981 to 2001. Australia is in the midst of fundamental political, economic and social change leading some in the community to question the benefits of micro-economic reform. Others question the future of work; labour market projections for 2015 show more women than men in employment, raising the spectre of further social and economic change. This project aims to shed some light on the debate over the future of work and inform labour market policy for the 'new economy'. Our capacity to understand the future requires knowledge of previous developments, trends, turning points etc. Using data from 1981-2001 the study will examine key dimensions of labour market change, particularly as it affects women. The research should lead to several publications and a manuscript for a book.Read moreRead less
A ten-year comparative analysis of work, benefit and skill trajectories of parallel cohorts of trade and bachelor graduates' working lives. The identification and understanding of the job, skill and benefit trajectories experienced by young skilled workers will contribute to the development of improved national workforce policies. Employers could develop more effective recruitment, retention and training practices for different types of upwardly mobile skilled workers. Governments could improve ....A ten-year comparative analysis of work, benefit and skill trajectories of parallel cohorts of trade and bachelor graduates' working lives. The identification and understanding of the job, skill and benefit trajectories experienced by young skilled workers will contribute to the development of improved national workforce policies. Employers could develop more effective recruitment, retention and training practices for different types of upwardly mobile skilled workers. Governments could improve policies to maintain and extend skilled workers, promote needed skilled trade and degree pathways to youth and develop more effective life long learning strategies for adults. Identifying the social reasons for job and skill change will also assist governments, employers and individuals to develop new educational approaches to improve recruitment, skill retention and market expansion. Read moreRead less
Partnerships at Work: The Interaction Between Employment Systems, Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure. This project examines the interaction of key factors seen to be of paramount importance in the creation and sustainability of 'Partnerships at Work'. These include particular employment systems, forms of corporate governance and ownership structures of enterprises. The circumstances in which partnership models arise, the pressures faced in maintaining them, and the role of the regulato ....Partnerships at Work: The Interaction Between Employment Systems, Corporate Governance and Ownership Structure. This project examines the interaction of key factors seen to be of paramount importance in the creation and sustainability of 'Partnerships at Work'. These include particular employment systems, forms of corporate governance and ownership structures of enterprises. The circumstances in which partnership models arise, the pressures faced in maintaining them, and the role of the regulatory environment will be examined through case studies and the construction of a database. It involves collaboration between senior scholars in corporate law and labour law. The project will enhance the capacity of governments, enterprises and stakeholders to review employment practices, governance structures and regulatory models.Read moreRead less
Modelling the labour market and the impact of the tax-benefit system on employment and GDP. The key national benefit from the proposed project will be development of a more informed and rigorous basis for analysing and making decisions on an important set of policy issues. The project will develop a more empirically relevant modelling framework than currently available for analysing changes in the labour market and in tax and welfare policies. The results will assist policy analysts in identifyi ....Modelling the labour market and the impact of the tax-benefit system on employment and GDP. The key national benefit from the proposed project will be development of a more informed and rigorous basis for analysing and making decisions on an important set of policy issues. The project will develop a more empirically relevant modelling framework than currently available for analysing changes in the labour market and in tax and welfare policies. The results will assist policy analysts in identifying directions for reform that can raise living standards and achieve a more egalitarian society. The project will also identify reforms required to avert an ageing crisis, and those that inhibit GDP growth due to their negative effects on female employment, household saving and fertility. Read moreRead less
A Lifecycle Approach to Labour Supply, Human Capital Accumulation and Public Policy. According to available time use data Australia has a relatively low labour supply, when compared with other major OECD countries, due primarily to low female working hours. This project will investigate the lifecycle dynamics of family labour supply decisions and human capital accumulation, to provide a more informed basis for policy debates. We therefore see the major national and community benefit as that of p ....A Lifecycle Approach to Labour Supply, Human Capital Accumulation and Public Policy. According to available time use data Australia has a relatively low labour supply, when compared with other major OECD countries, due primarily to low female working hours. This project will investigate the lifecycle dynamics of family labour supply decisions and human capital accumulation, to provide a more informed basis for policy debates. We therefore see the major national and community benefit as that of promoting Australia's rate of economic growth and ability to sustain funding for education, health and welfare, in an ageing population.Read moreRead less
Demographic change, ageing and the workforce: An integrated model to inform workforce development and planning in Australia. This project will greatly extend our understanding of the impact of demographic change and ageing on the workforce. It will develop a conceptual framework to strategically inform workforce development and a workforce planning model to assist Australian workplaces to respond to the challenge of demographic change and ageing. The need to develop a better understanding of, an ....Demographic change, ageing and the workforce: An integrated model to inform workforce development and planning in Australia. This project will greatly extend our understanding of the impact of demographic change and ageing on the workforce. It will develop a conceptual framework to strategically inform workforce development and a workforce planning model to assist Australian workplaces to respond to the challenge of demographic change and ageing. The need to develop a better understanding of, and respond to, the implications of demographic change and ageing for workforce development in Australia has been recognised nationally through the National Strategy for Ageing and is of direct relevance to the ARC's national research priority Ageing Well, Ageing Productively. Read moreRead less
Labour market transitions and dynamics in Australia: An analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. As stated in the National Research Priorities, 'in the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities'. Improving our understanding of these drivers is the main objective of this project. Specifically, the outcomes from this pro ....Labour market transitions and dynamics in Australia: An analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. As stated in the National Research Priorities, 'in the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities'. Improving our understanding of these drivers is the main objective of this project. Specifically, the outcomes from this project will result in a richer comprehension of the interaction between the social safety net and economic participation, and especially labour force participation. This research will thus directly support the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas, and thus should feed into improved policy decision-making, especially in the areas of employment and income support.Read moreRead less
Young people's understandings of the relation between work, the labour market and education: Their origins and effects. Young people's pathways between school and work have become much more diverse and complex than in the past. Yet the impact of family background on their education and employment outcomes has hardly changed. This project focuses on young people's perceptions of the relation between work, education and the labour market and the pathways open to them. Taking account of recent m ....Young people's understandings of the relation between work, the labour market and education: Their origins and effects. Young people's pathways between school and work have become much more diverse and complex than in the past. Yet the impact of family background on their education and employment outcomes has hardly changed. This project focuses on young people's perceptions of the relation between work, education and the labour market and the pathways open to them. Taking account of recent major changes in the youth labour market, the research aims to understand the role of these perceptions in shaping young people's choices and pathways, how these vary according to social background and experience, and how they affect employment outcomes.Read moreRead less
New Initiatives in Enforcing Employment Standards: Assessing the Effectiveness of Federal Government Compliance Strategies. The well-being of more than eight million Australian employees is underpinned by statutory workplace entitlements. For the large majority of those employees, these are set by federal legislation. The statutory entitlements are meaningful only in so far as they are complied with, and improving the effectiveness of the federal enforcement agency, the Workplace Ombudsman, is t ....New Initiatives in Enforcing Employment Standards: Assessing the Effectiveness of Federal Government Compliance Strategies. The well-being of more than eight million Australian employees is underpinned by statutory workplace entitlements. For the large majority of those employees, these are set by federal legislation. The statutory entitlements are meaningful only in so far as they are complied with, and improving the effectiveness of the federal enforcement agency, the Workplace Ombudsman, is therefore of crucial public importance. This project provides the first comprehensive scholarly empirical evaluation of the Workplace Ombudsman. Its findings will identify multiple ways in which enforcement practices can be improved, not only for the Workplace Ombudsman, but also for comparable compliance agencies domestically and overseas.Read moreRead less
Older Workers and Labour Market Adjustment: The Case of Ansett Airlines. By tracing over 5 years the post-retrenchment careers of former Ansett Airlines employees, the study will advance knowledge of labour market adjustments for mature skilled workers from a global service industry. The work will improve understanding of labour market inequality, marginal employment and the relationship between age, household circumstances and workers' willingness to relocate in search of work. By addressing t ....Older Workers and Labour Market Adjustment: The Case of Ansett Airlines. By tracing over 5 years the post-retrenchment careers of former Ansett Airlines employees, the study will advance knowledge of labour market adjustments for mature skilled workers from a global service industry. The work will improve understanding of labour market inequality, marginal employment and the relationship between age, household circumstances and workers' willingness to relocate in search of work. By addressing two National Research Priorities - the barriers to labour market participation of older workers and the motivations of skilled workers who emigrate from Australia - the project will contribute to the development of labour market policies attuned to the demands of an ageing workforce in a globalising economy.Read moreRead less