One of the significant challenges facing Australia is the ageing of the population. This challenge has led policy-makers to consider how older workers can be kept in the workforce. To help generate discussion on older workers, NCVER commissioned six researchers to draft essays on various issues around keeping older Australians engaged with the workforce. These essays, and responses by six additional discussants, were presented at a roundtable held in Canberra in May 2011. Themes to arise from the roundtable included the need to consider the diversity of older workers, the challenges of low literacy and numeracy skills for some older workers, discrimination and stereotypes, and the recognition that not all older workers want to keep working.
This report investigates skill matches to job requirements for workers in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. It might be expected that differences between the four countries in economic growth, technological innovation and structural change in the labour market may have led to differences in job skill requirements and use. This research finds, however, that the broad match of workers to jobs that use their skills is quite similar for the four countries, although some differences in the patterns of skill use over time were identified. This is one of the research reports resulting from a three-year program of research ( ).
One of the challenges policy-makers face is the lack of systemic analysis around the concept of labour mobility, especially in relation to how mobility is changing and what can be done to improve it. Case studies of the mining, meat processing and early childhood care occupations and analysis of data from the longitudinal survey Australia at work have been undertaken to explore key issues and implications for advancing the labour mobility research field.
This final report from a three-year research program puts the focus on the ability of VET to respond to workforce development challenges, particularly in industries characterised as low-skill entry points to the labour market. The key findings highlight the lack of incentive for workers in the meat processing and childcare sectors to train beyond mandatory levels due to casualised working arrangements and little reward for upgrading qualifications. To improve workforce development, using the concept of a vocation implies the capacity to move literally between different skill clusters potentially removing some of the stigma attached to hierarchical structures.
Looking at apprentice and trainee data and employment data back to 1995, we find that declines in apprentice commencements lead declines in total trades employment by four quarters, whereas declines in trainee commencements appear to lag declines in employment in non-trade occupations. Based on this historical relationship, the reduction in apprentice and trainee numbers suggested a much larger decline in employment than eventuated. The low proportion of redundant apprentices who were able to resume training is concerning. However, because apprentice and trainee commencements rebounded so quickly, we anticipate only a minor interruption to the supply of tradespeople.
Helping people with disability participate in the labour market is one way to enhance their economic and social well-being. However, low levels of education among people with disability generally can hinder their participation. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, this study looks at the role of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications not just in labour market outcomes for people with disability but in improving their working conditions. Whether post-school qualifications lessen the impact of disability onset is also examined. Completing a VET qualification is found to improve the rates of full-time employment in the longer term for those previously out of work or working part-time. With this comes greater financial independence.
Increasing productivity by moving people from welfare to employment is a priority for the Australian Government. This report considers the complex issues of helping those marginalised from the labour market into employment. Case studies of innovative intermediaries illustrate that both demand and supply factors must feature in order to provide successful assistance to disadvantaged job seekers. Strategies used include networking, adapting to changing conditions and reinventing themselves to fill gaps in the provision of support. Vocational education and training, often touted as an ideal pathway into employment for disadvantaged groups, is described by these intermediaries as inert in the absence of social and economic support.
In this paper, Ryan investigates labour market outcomes for a range of different pathways undertaken by young people.
The paper provides an overview of the implications and causes of labour mobility and job tenure using data from major statistical sources and the research literature.
This scoping paper explores the extent and consequences of labour market movement and the characteristics of people who change jobs.
The results of the consultations NCVER conducted in November and December 2010 to identify research topics using the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) are presented in this paper and will help determine the research topics best suited to the LSAY data. These will be used to shape the 2011-13 LSAY analytical program of research that NCVER conducts on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Using both the 1995 and 1998 cohorts of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth, this study investigates the motivations for and the education and employment outcomes from working while studying for both VET and higher education students.