Labor Demand Research Articles

Governance and obstacles in the reception and social and labour integration of asylum seekers in Spain

Changes in migratory flows have transformed Spain from a country of emigration to one of the main destinations for international migration. And it has also become one of the most important European countries in the reception of asylum seekers and refugees in the last decade. With an unprepared reception system, the State has faced this challenge by decentralising socio-labour integration responsibilities to third sector entities. This article aims to analyse the institutional approach to the management and integration of asylum seekers, studying changes in the management of the reception and integration system for this group. Through documentary analysis and descriptive statistics, we observe a greater streamlining of certain processes, particularly after the arrival of asylum seekers from Ukraine in 2022. However, structural deficiencies remain, hindering the processes of matching labour supply and demand.

To leave or to stay: Digital economy development and migrant workers’ location

The vigorous development of the digital economy will reshape labour demand, which in turn will affect the workplace choice of migrant workers and then their location. Taking the large-scale and highly-mobile immigrant workers in urban China as the research population, this paper conducted an empirical research on the impact of the digital economy on labour location using the data from the China Labour-force Dynamic Survey (2012–2016). Results show that the more developed a city’s digital economy is, the more immigrants the city can attract and absorb. Analysis of the impact channels shows that the attraction of the digital economy to immigrants stems mainly from entrepreneurial opportunity provision and skill utilization enhancement effects. There is individual heterogeneity in the impact of the digital economy, with low-skilled, rural, or high communication ability migrant workers likely to be positively impacted by the development of the urban digital economy. While local governments are committed to digital technology-driven economic transformation, they should nonetheless promote the training of workers in the new era to achieve a better match between digital development and labour market.

Design and field experiment of Codonopsis pilosula film covering transplanter

To address the low efficiency and high labor demands of manual Codonopsis pilosula cultivation, as well as the limitations of existing flat-type transplanting machines that create trenches of inconsistent depth hindering root growth and seedling emergence, a C. pilosula film-covered outcrop tilted transplanting machine was developed. Based on theoretical analysis of the prototype's key components and agronomic requirements for oblique C. pilosula transplanting, the structure and working parameters of the rotary tiller soil throwing device, soil lifting device, track-type soil conveying device, seedling throwing device, and film covering device were determined. The core components' working principles were analyzed, and the soil throwing process of the rotary tiller device was simulated using the discrete element method (DEM). A calculation domain was established, and the results showed that the average mass of the rotary tiller device was 49.44 kg, while the required soil lifting amount for the scraper-type soil lifting device was 21.84 kg, meeting the soil throwing requirements. Field experiments in 10 test areas demonstrated an average qualified rate of 89.50% for planting depth, 84.00% for planting posture, 90% for exposed plant spacing, 4.51 cm for plant spacing, and 8.67% coefficient of variation for planting spacing. These results meet industry standards for planting depth and planting spacing, confirming the machine's effectiveness in achieving high-quality tilted transplanting of C. pilosula seedlings.

Robotical Automation in CNC Machine Tools: A Review

Abstract Robotics and automation have significantly transformed Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining operations, enhancing productivity, precision, and efficiency. Robots are employed to load and unload raw materials, workpieces, and finished parts onto CNC machines. They can efficiently handle heavy and bulky components, reducing the demand of manual labour and minimizing the risk of injuries. Robots can also be used in CNC machine tools to perform tasks such as automatic tool changing system, part inspection, and workpiece positioning. Automation technologies, including in-line inspection systems and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods, can be integrated into CNC machining cells to enhance accuracy and reduce scrap and rework in machining operations. These systems collect real-time data on process parameters and machine tool performance to predict maintenance, optimize machining parameters, and improve overall efficiency. In the current study, applications of robotics and automation in the modification of CNC machine tools are reviewed and discussed. Different applications of robotics and automation in CNC machine tools, such as automated material handling, automatic tool changing, robotic work cells, adaptive machining, machine tending, quality inspection, data monitoring and analysis, and production line integration, are discussed. Thus, by analysing recent achievements in published papers, new ideas and concepts of future research works are suggested. As a result, accuracy as well as productivity in the process of part production can be enhanced by applying robotics and automation in CNC machining operations.

Analysis of the Impact of Delayed Retirement to the Macroeconomy

With the steady improvement of life expectancy in Chinese society and the intensification of the aging trend of the population, the supply-demand relationship in the labor market is facing unprecedented challenges. The increasingly serious reduction of the labor force and the pressure of the pension system make the current retirement policy gradually show its shortcomings of not adapting to the Chinese labor market. To this end, the government has planned to gradually implement the retirement delay policy and set a long-term goal to 2035. In an in-depth discussion of the current situation of China's labor market, society must focus on the aging of the population, the extension of working life, and the changes in labor demand. In order to better promote the implementation of the delayed retirement policy, this paper makes the following recommendations: protect the legislative rights of workers, strengthen medical services to safeguard the health of the elderly workforce, provide targeted training to adapt to the new work needs, and introduce more flexible working arrangements. These measures aim to ensure that the delayed retirement policy can be effectively implemented while protecting the rights and interests of workers.

Broaden sustainable design and optimization of decarbonized campus Energy systems with scope 3 emissions accounting and social ramification analysis

A holistic approach that considers economic, environmental, and social dimensions is crucial for informed and responsible decision-making in energy system decarbonization. Integrating techno-economic, environmental, and social perspectives, we propose a multi-objective optimization framework for the sustainable design of decarbonized campus energy systems, resonating with the tri-fold principles of Corporate Social Responsibility. This comprehensive approach reveals the techno-economic intricacies inherent in adopting renewable solutions to accommodate cooling, heat, and power demand on university campuses. Our proposed model endeavors to minimize both total annualized costs and the broader spectrum of emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) in pursuit of environmental justice. Meanwhile, by merging life cycle assessment (LCA) with economic input-output analysis based on established social LCA databases, we can gauge the potential social impacts associated with these sustainability initiatives. The results serve as a roadmap for designing and operating truly sustainable campus energy systems, pinpointing environmental concerns, suggesting remedial strategies, and spotlighting the resultant social consequences. To showcase the tangible applicability of this holistic modeling framework, we have used real-world data from the main campus of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York State, to develop a case study. Our results show that with a plentiful biogas supply, it is possible to reduce yearly GHG emissions by more than 70%. Even when procurement emissions are left out, Scope 3 emissions still represent 69–82% of the total GHG emissions, dominated by the transportation sector. Turning to sustainable transport options, such as electric vehicles (EVs), can markedly lower these figures. On the socio-economic front, ramping up geothermal drilling could intensify negative social consequences, such as risk of forced labor, conflicts, accidents, and natural disasters, by 29%. These are primarily due to safety issues and the labor demands of earth source heat site preparation, encompassing risks such as forced labor and accidents. As the push for energy decarbonization grows stronger, it is imperative to weigh these downsides against the broader social benefits.

Agricultural Technological Change, Female Earnings and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil

Abstract I study how agricultural technological change affects labour market opportunities and fertility in a developing country context. Exploiting plausibly exogenous variation in the adoption of genetically engineered soy across municipalities in Brazil, I show that this labour-saving technology reduced female agricultural earnings and employment without inducing any female sectoral reallocation. Furthermore, this technology adoption increased fertility due to increases in overall household earnings and substitution effects driven by the reduction in female labour demand. These results suggest that technological progress in developing countries may not improve female economic opportunities or lower fertility unless substitution effects are negative and sufficiently large.

Effect of Chinese outward FDI on youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa.

This paper investigates the effect of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) on youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by using a modified labour demand model to identify the investment sources that are helpful for reducing youth unemployment in the region. The model is applied to a panel of 42 countries for the period 2003-2021 using random-effect, and generalized method of moment (GMM) estimators for robustness check. Our results suggest that Chinese FDI has direct short-term reducing effect on youth unemployment in SSA. The direction of China's capital investment to infrastructure development and other labour-intensive activities leads to immediate reduction in youth unemployment. However, overtime, due to absence of linkages with domestic firms, and thus lack of demand effects, Chinese FDI becomes insignificant for employment creation. Our results also indicate that Other FDI does not lead to significant reduction in youth unemployment both currently and overtime. Our analysis gives partial support to the argument that the impact of Chinese FDI may differ from those of developed countries. Finally, we could not find evidence that the effect of FDI on employment depends on host country human capital and institutional quality. Several specifications of the empirical model are tested, and explanations are provided for the results. Policy implications are highlighted, especially the need to attract more job absorbing FDI and improve domestic absorptive capacity.

Peran Asosiasi Pengusaha Indonesia (APINDO) Memanfaatkan kebijakan Sistem Informasi Pasar Kerja (SIPK) 2024

The Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) plays a crucial role in addressing the gap between workforce supply and industrial demand. This study explores how APINDO leverages the Labor Market Information System (SIPK) to align human resources with industry needs, thereby enhancing employment rates and improving the efficiency of the labor market. The SIPK provides comprehensive data on labor market trends, job vacancies, and skill requirements, enabling employers to make informed decisions about hiring and training. Through interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of SIPK data, this research highlights the effectiveness of APINDO's strategies in optimizing human resource absorption. The findings indicate that APINDO's utilization of SIPK not only bridges the gap between job seekers and employers but also contributes to the development of a more responsive and adaptive workforce, meeting the evolving needs of industries in Indonesia. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing the SIPK platform and expanding APINDO's initiatives to further support the alignment of labor supply and demand.

Management policies regarding labor mobility by industry

This research study 341 articles from Web of Science, along with a co-citation analysis to reveal the theoretical underpinnings of research on management policies related to labor mobility across economic sectors and this topic trends in this area cover various aspects, including the impact of labor migration, such as wages, geography, labor market supply and demand in the specific region, property rights, and government policies related to managing labor migration across countries.

Strategies to Mitigate Delay Career Completion in Computer Science Area

Objective: The objective of this study is communicating the strategies based on two active methodologies in order to contribute to finish undergraduate studies in a computer science degree in the face of the universal problem called All but Dissertation (ABD). Theoretical Framework: In this topic, the main concepts concerning to ABD and active methodologies: challenge-based learning and formative research are synthesized. These theoretical references were chosen for their significant contribution. Method: The methodology descriptive, adopted for this research comprises the Evidence-based software engineering. Data collection is based on observations and analysis of the defended productions. Results and Discussion: The results revealed the importance of capitalizing on students' knowledge, experiences and practices to solve problems of the context, in articulation with final degree productions. As a limitation, the data correspond to the 2022 year. Research Implications: Contribution of new evidence to previous findings, incorporating other active strategies to mitigate the prolongation of studies in Computer Science careers, given its great labor demand. Articulation between the university and the software industry, to influence other similar professional fields without spatio-temporal limitations. Originality/Value: The findings provide evidence to contribute to the study the ABD syndrome. The ICT products belonged to these graduation projects are highlighted, representing knowledge, practices and artifacts aimed at proposing real solutions to problems identified in the context.

The social effects of energy regulation: Energy-consuming rights trading system and corporate labor demand

Although it is a key measure to control energy consumption and promote the improvement of industrial structure, energy market allocation reform has rarely been concerned with its impact on employment, an important livelihood issue. To fill this gap, this paper takes the Energy-Consumption Rights Trading System (ECRTS) enacted by China in 2016 as a research background and adopts the difference-in-difference approach to explore the effects and mechanisms of the ECRTS on enterprise labor demand. The results show that the ECRTS significantly reduces firms' labor demand, particularly for low-skilled workers, through both production scale effects and technological upgrading effects. Specifically, the ECRTS has led to a decrease in sales revenues and an increase in labor productivity, thereby reducing firms' labor demand. Heterogeneity tests indicate that the ECRTS has a greater impact on employment in firms with lower energy-consumption intensity, domestic capital injections, weaker innovation capacity, and lower market power. The paper also explores the welfare consequences of the policy, finding that while the ECRTS does not improve the environmental performance of firms it does not pass on the compliance costs of regulations to incumbent workers. The overall impact is neutral. This paper extends the study of the economic consequences of the ECRTS and has implications for other developing countries in reconciling energy regulation and employment.

Faktor – Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Efektivitas Rekrutmen pada PT Gramedia Asri Media

In Indonesia, especially in the employment sector, a qualified workforce is needed so that companies can remain competitive and experience rapid growth. The demand for qualified labor continues to increase every year, which makes competition among job seekers increasingly fierce. In addition, many new graduates face difficulties in finding a job due to lack of access to information. Therefore, there are several factors that can facilitate job seekers in the application and job search process, such as recruitment sources, company branding, and a fast and efficient selection process. These factors help recruiters in finding candidates that match the needs of the company and the position required.

Labour multiplier driven approach for budgeting project resources

Manpower demand for construction projects is roughly budgeted based on planners’ personal experience. This research study explores an analytical way to characterise project labour demand profiles throughout project duration. Labour multiplier (LM) approach was advanced to characterise the labour demand profiles. Optimistic, most-likely, and pessimistic LM and labour demand profiles at 10 project stages are defined by using manpower and payment data derived from 91 completed public construction projects under 21 project types in Hong Kong. The root-mean-square-error and root-mean-squared-logarithmic-error are used to quantify the difference between the budgeted and the benchmarked manpower. A text-book example is successfully adopted to demonstrate the steps of the proposed approach, validated by two practical projects. This research is the first to study the use of LM to characterise optimistic, most-likely, pessimistic resource demand profiles for validating manpower resource budgets. Also, the approach provides a basis to evaluate the reasonableness of planned resource.

A Story of Farmer-Monkey Interactions Towards Their Effects on Semi-Urban Migration and Livelihood

Migration involves changing residence due to economic, environmental, social, and political factors. Push factors such as poverty, unequal resource distribution, and labor demands compel people to relocate. In Nepal, low agricultural productivity serves as a significant push factor for migration, exacerbated by crop damage caused by wildlife. This crop damage results in economic losses for farmers, affecting their livelihoods and contributing to rural-to-urban migration patterns. A qualitative study was conducted in Likhu-6 in the Nuwakot district in October and November 2023. Participants were Nepalese residents aged 18 and above from Likhu Rural Municipality Ward No. 6. Farmers in the study encounter challenges due to the increasing monkey population, leading to crop damage and income reduction. This situation has compelled many farmers to relocate to semi-urban areas in search of alternative livelihoods. The presence of monkeys has diminished crop yields, causing financial strain on farmers and prompting them to abandon their farms for semi-urban areas. This migration has not only influenced the agricultural sector but also impacted the local economy and community dynamics. Efforts should be made to address the interactions between farmers and monkeys through deterrent measures and community-based solutions. Sustainable, long-term strategies are necessary to mitigate the impact of monkeys on farmers' livelihoods.

ANALISIS TINGKAT PENGANGGURAN TERBUKA DAN UPAH MINIMUM DI PROVINSI JAWA BARAT

Unemployment is a macroeconomic problem that hinders regional development and gives rise to other social problems. West Jawa Province is the province with the highest open unemployment rate in Indonesia. Various factors contribute to this problem, so this research aims to explore the influence of the Minimum Wage and Economic Growth. This research uses secondary data 18 regencies and 9 cities in West Jawa Province and uses dynamic panel data regression analysis. The results of the study show that the results of the study show that when the minimum wage increases above the equilibrium, the demand for labor will decrease and the unemployment rate will increase. When economic growth increases, the demand for labor will increase which will ultimately reduce the unemployment rate.

Quota removal, gender-specific export shock, and female labor force participation in China

There is a lack of consensus on how trade liberalization affects female labor force participation (FLFP), primarily due to challenges in identifying exports of female labor-intensive products. In this study, we construct a unique gender-specific export shock by examining the removal of the Multi-Fiber Arrangement (MFA) trade quotas in 2005, which targeted the female labor-intensive textiles and clothing (T&C) industry. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach, we find that MFA quota removal significantly increases FLFP in China, which is attributed to the heightened demand for female labor in the T&C industry and related services. Increased demand not only boosts women incomes but also significantly reduces fertility rates. Furthermore, it disproportionately benefits four specific female groups: well-educated women, young women, unmarried women, and those without young children.

A task-based approach to inequality

Abstract This article reviews recent work on how automation and task displacement have contributed to labour share declines and inequality in the US labour market. We summarize the basic building blocks of a task-based framework in which a set of tasks is allocated between capital, skilled labour and unskilled labour. Automation, which corresponds to the use of new technologies expanding the set of tasks that can be performed by capital, always reduces the labour share in value added and may depress overall wages and employment. The negative effects of automation on labour share and its potentially adverse consequences for labour demand can be counterbalanced by the creation of new labour-intensive tasks, which can reinstate labour into the production process. We also show that when automation displaces unskilled labour from the tasks in which they used to specialize (which has been its modal impact so far), it increases the demand for skills and inequality. New tasks may or may not limit the increase in the demand for skills depending on whether they are mostly targeted at skilled workers. We then provide a range of evidence supporting the basic predictions and implications of this framework. Most importantly, the decline in the share of labour in national income and the increase in the demand for skills appear to be related to an acceleration in the pace of automation and a deceleration in technological changes complementing humans during the last 30 years. We end with a discussion of the potential bias towards automation in the development and adoption of digital technologies, and how this will affect the nature of work in the face of recent advances in artificial intelligence.

Brexit and the fintech revolution in Europe: lessons from the Bulgarian digital finance sector

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the drivers of the resilience of the fintech sector in emerging Europe (EU) by analyzing the performance of 128 Bulgarian fintech companies in the period around the Referendum for Brexit in 2016. The Referendum was followed by a rapid growth of the Bulgarian fintech sector at a moment when venture capital funding was limited, which challenged firms to improve their fundamentals. Design/methodology/approach This empirical paper uses descriptive and panel data analysis based on the firm balance sheet and income statement data at the annual level. Findings The results show that larger and better-capitalized firms, which outsource their non-core activities and focus on their main competitive strengths, tend to have higher operating income and profit. The authors also find positive real-economy effects as these companies hire more actively to maintain growth. The results are primarily driven by the post-Brexit period of 2016–2019 when the authors find a tighter link between performance and firm fundamentals. These results have important managerial and policy implications and provide interesting directions for future research. Practical implications The findings have important management and policy implications. The authors argue that the flexibility of the Bulgarian fintech cluster, including the practice of Bulgarian fintech startups to outsource non-core activities; the readiness of universities to open new master programs to address firm demand for skilled labor and the startup-friendly environment in the main cluster hotspot, Sofia, has contributed to the resilience of the sector and can explain the drivers behind our findings. Fintech firms are very efficient in utilizing external services to foster their performance and growth, which may suggest that public policies that provide financial support for cloud services and outsourcing for startups during downturns or crises may improve economic growth and may have positive externalities for the supporting sectors that provide these services. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study the drivers of Fintech performance to identify best practices for managerial actions during economic or political crises, as well as government policy recommendations. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is one of the first empirical academic studies that examine the impact of Brexit on the European Fintech sector and real economy. The identified managerial strategies for ensuring regional resilience to economic crises and political shocks can be applied in various settings within and outside the EU.

The effect of labor mobility on corporate investment and performance over the business cycle

We show that time-series variation in investment opportunities and labor demand create heterogeneity in the effects of labor mobility on corporate investment over the business cycle. To isolate variation in labor mobility, we create an annual state-level index from 1984 through 2017 that captures the degree to which state courts enforce covenants not to compete. We find that firms located in more mobile labor markets increase investment rates more during economic expansions but have similar investment rates during periods of low or negative growth. This increased investment during expansions is greater for firms that rely more on recruiting skilled and experienced workers to grow their businesses, and it translates into higher sales growth rates, profits, and valuations. Overall, our results suggest that the benefits of being able to recruit qualified workers with relevant experience during expansions outweigh the costs associated with losing key workers.