Intra-Urban Unemployment Differentials in Sydney, 1971

Abstract

This paper analyses intra-urban unemployment differentials among male and female workers in Sydney in 1971. Neo-classical models of the labour market and urban development provide the theoretical background. Comparisons are made with UK studies which suggest that high unemployment in inner city areas can be explained either by the fact that more 'unemployables' live in such areas (a supply oriented explanation) or by the suburbanisation of jobs (a demand-oriented explanation). In Sydney there was a clearly defined spatial pattern in unemployment rates that was the same as that found in UK studies - the nearer a location to the core of Sydney, the higher was the unemployment rate among male residents. However, no spatial pattern could be detected in female unemployment rates. Supply and demand explanations are suggested for this absence of high inner city unemployment among women. It is concluded that policies designed to cure male unemployment in inner areas could have harmful effects on women's employment opportunities.