This overview describes research conducted by the University of Canberra which looked at the characteristics of people with vocational qualifications who are self-employed and the differences between the self-employed and employees.
Two features of the labour market for vocationally qualified workers are explored in this technical paper: the likelihood of self-employment versus wage employment and the determinants of income.
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.
Amongst recent initiatives aimed at lifting Australia’s productivity has been a push for a greater number of course completions in both the vocational education and training and higher education sectors. With this, it could be assumed, come benefits for the individual such as better job opportunities and higher wages. Using the 1995 and 1998 cohorts of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth, this study looked at whether participating in or completing a post-secondary education qualification led to wage benefits for young people. The study finds that not only completing a post-secondary course but participating in one results in higher wages.
This monograph is the culmination of a three-year research program undertaken by the University of South Australia's Centre for Work+Life. It considers the barriers, support and benefit of vocational education and training (VET) for workers in the low-paid occupations (that is, those earning around $17 per hour). The research considered a wide range of quantitative data as well as the experience and perspectives of employers, workers, students and vocational educators. The findings challenge any easy assumptions that more VET will automatically enhance the position of lower paid workers, that all VET can be assumed to be similar in positive effect for lower paid workers, or that lower paid workers share similar situations, including their work/life circumstances.
This report looks at what factors influence the participation of low-skilled and low-paid workers in vocational education and training. Information comes from students, employers, employees and providers in the retail, food-processing and non-residential aged care sectors across four Australian states. It finds that although barriers to training do include lack of money and time to study, many of the challenges related to integrating work, home life, community interests and study. The main driver of training is the need to gain or retain a job, and the costs of participation are high as far as time, money and effort goes. For low-paid workers the financial rewards for training are low.
Finding yourself in a job that does not match your skills or education level can be detrimental in a number of ways. Using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, this study builds on previous work by looking at the impact of being over-skilled or over-educated or both on an individual’s wages as well as their level of job satisfaction. The study distinguishes between ‘genuine’ mismatch (wages and job satisfaction are both low) and ‘apparent’ mismatch—where a job may pay less but has been accepted because it has some other redeeming attribute, such as greater flexibility of work hours. The study finds that mismatch is often characterised by both lower wages and job satisfaction.
This paper updates an earlier paper by Karmel and Mlotkowski and looks at how the probability of getting a job, in addition to wages, impacts on completion rates. It finds that for trade apprentices the premium (or extra wage completing an apprenticeship brings) attached to becoming a tradesperson is a significant factor, whereas for non-trade trainees the training wage matters more. It also finds that the probability of employment for an apprentice or trainee on completion is greater than if they drop out; this particularly affects completion rates for trades and females in non-trade occupations. Finally, the economic downturn significantly increased the attractiveness of apprenticeships and traineeships.
This scoping paper explores the extent and consequences of labour market movement and the characteristics of people who change jobs.