Sector Employees Research Articles

Women in Transition: The Dynamic Effects of Inward FDI on Female Employment in the Economy and Across Sectors

This paper examines the effects of inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the female employment rate in the economy and the share of female employment across sectors. The empirical analysis is implemented through the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) System estimator for dynamic panel models using different empirical specifications and FDI openness indicators. The main results show that the overall effects of inward FDI on the national female employment rate are not statistically significant. However, they reveal that inward FDI has promoted the share of female employment in the service sector and has led to decreases in the share of female employment in agriculture. The FDI effects on the share of female employment in the industrial sector are found to be statistically insignificant. These results are generally supported when running the empirical analysis through alternative FDI openness indicators. Also, supplementary analysis reveals some variations in the magnitude of these effects over different national income categories. The findings in this paper emphasize FDI’s gendered influences in the labour market. They are consistent with the prevalence of macroeconomic channels through which inward FDI impacts female employment across sectors, and they encompass the underlying implications of various counteracting microeconomic factors.

Which jobs make cities attractive to migrants? Explaining the changing distribution of migrants from their employment geography in transitional China

ABSTRACT While the role of regional disparities in employment opportunities has been emphasised in unbalanced migration processes, the differences in employment across various sectors have not been fully addressed. This study attempts to explain the changing distribution of migrants across Chinese cities in the last decade based on the employment structure among those migrants. We found that compared with employment opportunities, employment structure has a stronger explanatory power for changes in net migrants across cities. Specifically, the geography of manufacturing employment has significantly affected the changing distribution of migrants, alongside the burgeoning impact of employment in new industries, including high-tech manufacturing and modern service employment. In addition, the influence of employment in different sectors on the redistribution of migrants varies according to city size. Our findings highlight the importance of focusing on regional disparities in employment structure to better understand regional migration dynamics.

The inclusion of racialized women in the nursing workforce

PurposeThe study focuses on employment equity among Canadian women with a nursing education, examining differences across racialized groups.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis used data from the 2021 Canadian Census of Population on a large sample of women aged 25–64 years with a nursing education (n = 112,000). The analysis compared women from ten racialized population groups to those from the White population group on attainment of a nursing education, employment in the health sector, and having an occupation that matched their nursing education. These comparisons were made separately for women who were Canadian-born, Canadian-educated immigrants and foreign-educated immigrants and controlled for differences in educational and demographic characteristics.FindingsMost racialized women were under-represented in terms of having a nursing education, which was a barrier to their inclusion in the nursing workforce. Having a Canadian nursing education eliminated most disparities between racialized and White women in terms of employment outcomes. Foreign-educated immigrant women experienced a large penalty in levels of workforce integration, and this penalty was mostly larger for those from racialized population groups than the White population group. Large proportions of foreign-educated immigrant women with a nursing education had non-health occupations or health occupations that underutilized their skills.Originality/valueThis study provides a granular perspective on disparities between racialized and White women in levels of employment and utilization in the nursing workforce. The analyses illustrate the need for disaggregated data to reveal where the disparities lie and the context in which these disparities emerge.

Pious people, patronage jobs, and the labor market: Turkey under Erdoğan’s AKP

AbstractIn fragmented societies, electoral competition often entails using public office to advance group interests. Using individual-level polling data from 2012 to 2018, we analyze whether age cohorts entering the labor market before and after the religiously conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) assumed power in Turkey experienced different public employment outcomes based on their religion and religiosity. Our analysis reveals that under the AKP rule, pious Sunnis (who constitute a large part of the society) significantly increased their presence in public sector employment (notably among women) and in high-status private jobs (notably among men). Furthermore, the subset of highly religious Sunnis (only 9.3% of the population) improved their likelihood of being employed in the public sector compared to other pious Sunnis and everyone else. Our findings are likely to be driven by the lifting of the headscarf ban in public employment and AKP’s strategic use of public employment and resources to reward like-minded groups in both the public and private spheres.

Examining the Influence of Socio-Economic and Demographic Transformation on Employment In the Informal Sector From 2017 To 2020

This study explored the impact of socio-demographic changes on informal sector employment in South Africa from 2017 to 2020. Utilizing data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed to analyze relationships between age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, and education within the informal workforce. The results revealed significant shifts in employment patterns, particularly affecting youth and marginalized groups. The findings emphasize the vital role of socio-demographic factors in shaping the informal sector and highlight the need for targeted policies to support vulnerable populations and improve their economic opportunities in a fluctuating labor market.

Effect of internet penetration on ICT export, economy, and employment in Bangladesh: Evidence from vector error correction and local projection

The advent of Industry 4.0 is imminent, with the internet emerging as a pivotal catalyst for this impending revolution as general-purpose technology (GPT). This study examines the transformative impact of internet penetration on economic development and employment dynamics in Bangladesh. Leveraging time series data from 1996 to 2022, and employing Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Linear Projections (LP) methodologies, the research reveals significant insights into the relationship between internet penetration, ICT exports, GDP growth, and employment trends. Findings indicate that a 10% increase in internet penetration led to a notable 4.7% rise in ICT exports and a marginal 0.8% increase in GDP, albeit with a concerning 1.1% decline in formal sector employment. While highlighting the positive influence of internet connectivity on trade and economic activities, the study underscores the challenges of job displacement and the need for inclusive and equitable growth strategies in the face of technological big push.

Associations between early marriage, women’s empowerment, and infant mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is characterized by high gender inequality and a high rate of early marriages of girl children, which could have a negative influence on child health outcomes and child mortality in the region. This study examined the influence of child marriage on infant mortality in selected countries in SSA. We used Cox proportional hazard models to analyze pooled data (N = 33,549 children) from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 28 SSA countries. Our study established that children of child brides faced heightened risks of infant mortality compared with children of women who married after the age of 18, although this relationship became insignificant after controlling for women’s empowerment and other control variables. Therefore, the findings support the hypothesis that a certain extent of women’s empowerment could moderate the relationship between early marriage and infant mortality in regions where early marriages occur due to the low socioeconomic status of women. We conclude that ensuring women empowerment and increasing their economic opportunities (such as involvement in the agriculture and formal employment sectors) will lead to decreases in child marriage, thereby reducing infant mortality in SSA.

Public pension contract minimalism

AbstractThe national pension debt and COVID crises have collided. Post‐pandemic economic decline has escalated existing financial strains on state and local pension plans, impacting workers and the public welfare. With unfunded obligations exceeding one trillion dollars, many of these plans are in jeopardy. But the movement to reform government pension contracts has yet to adopt an anchoring idea, leaving judicial decisions in disarray and policymakers without guidance about how to shore up troubled retirement systems. The crux of the problem is the many meanings of contract under state and US Contract Clauses that prevent pension reform. This Essay endorses a promising path forward—contract minimalism. “Contract minimalism” concentrates on the duration of government pension contracts. It posits that public and private employment law should be treated the same. Like its private law counterpart, public sector employment at‐will ought to consist of a daily contract interval. A contract‐a‐day concept entitles employers to change the plan prospectively, with employees receiving a proportionate share of benefits for work performed. Just as several agreements safeguard salaries for labor, they should also mirror the protection afforded to deferred benefits like pensions. Contract minimalism additionally puts public and private sector employers on the same legal footing as to the authority to change pension plan terms. Thus, it aligns public pension benefits with overlapping fields of law, placing them on a firm conceptual foundation. The minimalist approach also has the advantage over approaches that are insufficiently attentive to scarce government resources or employee old‐age security. By protecting pension benefits early and incrementally, it advances a middle path with fairer, more coherent results. In the present post‐pandemic era of hard choices, minimalism provides an equilibrium between the over‐ and under‐protection of pension benefits.

Economic Diversification through Knowledge-Based Industries 2024

This study aims to analyze the impact of the knowledge economy on economic diversification in Saudi Arabia and its contribution to sustainable development by developing supportive strategies and policies. To achieve this goal, the study employed an inductive approach, gathering data and information from diverse sources, including books, references, and both Arabic and international journals. Descriptive and analytical economic analyses were used to review and interpret data related to knowledge economy indicators. Additionally, statistical analysis was conducted using EViews software to examine regression relationships between independent and dependent variables, aiming to evaluate the knowledge economy's role in promoting economic diversification and sustainable development in Saudi Arabia. The study found that the knowledge economy plays a pivotal role in enhancing economic diversification. The results showed that regions focusing on knowledge-based industries exhibit higher levels of productivity, technological advancement, and employment in high-skill sectors. Investments in education, research, and development significantly bolstered the competitiveness of these industries in the global market, thereby supporting sustainable economic growth. Analysis results also revealed that economic diversification positively supports the growth of knowledge-based industries, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where diversification efforts have reduced reliance on traditional sectors and enhanced the economy’s resilience and adaptability to global changes.

Master Narratives surrounding Rural Emerging Adult Migration: Resources for Postsecondary Decision-making in Rural Communities

This study examined the cultural messages informing postsecondary decision-making processes surrounding emerging adult migration from/to a predominately rural state in the northeastern U.S. Utilizing an ecological approach to sampling, this study used 27 interviews and 5 focus groups of stakeholders working in educational, employment, and quality of life sectors. Narrative analysis yielded evidence of a predominant master narrative of migration as a developmental requirement during emerging adulthood. Stakeholders spoke of normative and prescriptive expectations that emerging adults particularly in rural areas orient their plans and decision-making around, including leaving their home communities for developmental reasons. Implications for emerging adult development and migration and future research on identity formation vis-a-vis master narratives are discussed.

The Dynamics of Diabetes Disclosure in the Workplace

Background/Objectives: Individuals with diabetes often experience discrimination and barriers at work and are confronted with the challenge of deciding whether to disclose their health status in their workplace. This study explores the disclosure of diabetes in the workplace. The research was based on a previously developed questionnaire. Methods: Two hundred and five persons with diabetes who were employed in Greece participated in the research. Results: The majority of the participants chose to disclose. Demographic characteristics influenced their disclosure decision, with the diabetes type and the employment sector showing a more significant impact. The majority of the participants showed a strong preference for early disclosure. Conclusions: The main reasons for disclosure were the belief that there was no reason to conceal it and the need to know in an emergency. In contrast, the main reasons for concealment were the fear of being fired or not being hired, the belief that disclosure was unnecessary, and concerns about being treated differently. The present research brings to light the reality of employed people with diabetes in Greece. Future research could focus on a deeper understanding of the disclosure issues of people with diabetes and other non-visible disabilities.

The Local Economic Impacts of Prisons

Abstract I examine the economic consequences of prisons on local communities using two complementary approaches. The first uses prison openings during the 1990s across the United States, and the second exploits the results of the prison site-selection competitions in Texas. Prisons bring substantial and persistent gains in public employment. However, additional jobs at the prisons generate little spillover effects on private sector employment and fail to provide a major boost to local economic activity—overall resulting in approximately a one-for-one increase in local employment. Neighborhoods closest to prisons also experience declines in housing values and demographic shifts toward low-socioeconomic status households.

Creative Industries And Economic Value: A Review Of Innovation, Impact, And Policy Support

This paper provides a comprehensive review of creative industries, examining their economic impact, innovation potential, and policy frameworks across different national contexts. Drawing from recent research and official reports, it analyzes how creative industries have evolved from traditional cultural activities to become significant drivers of economic growth and innovation in the digital age. The review synthesizes evidence from multiple countries, showing that creative industries demonstrate significant economic contributions, with the UK creative sector contributing £108 billion in GVA and employing 2.3 million people, while countries like South Korea and China report contributions of 6.3% and 4.3% to their respective GDPs. The findings of the review reveal that while creative industries show substantial positive economic impacts, including employment generation and revenue growth, their effects vary across regions and contexts. The paper highlights this sector's crucial role in driving innovation, particularly through digital transformation and new business model development. The paper also examines the critical role of cultural policy in supporting creative industries, finding that countries with dedicated creative industry policies have seen significant increases in sector employment over the past five years. The findings suggest that understanding the multifaceted nature of creative industries is crucial for developing effective policies and support mechanisms in both developed and emerging economies. This review contributes to the literature by providing a systematic analysis of recent developments in creative industries while identifying gaps in current research and suggesting future research directions for the development of creative industries in emerging economies.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Employee Turnover Intention among IT Sector Employees

Employee turnover is an important problem in the IT sector. However, there are still few comprehensive discussions on the current trends in employee turnover research. This study aims to comprehensively investigate relevant literature from 2019 to 2023 by bibliometric analysis to facilitate detailed exploration. The study has collected many academic documents and provided a comprehensive overview of recent research landscapes. Using the Scopus database, we used library analysis to examine the publication on employee turnover intentions between 2019 and 2023. The results showed a significant increase in research on turnover intentions, which highlighted their continued relevance in organizational research. In addition, the study identified and mapped a group of academic research focusing on employee turnover intentions, job satisfaction, employee management, and employee turnover. Key themes, influential works, and outstanding contributions were highlighted, showing the main contributors and key publications in this area. The information obtained from this study provides a valuable basis for future research and guides researchers to the most important research areas. The recommendations proposed will contribute to the development of effective retention strategies and promote better working conditions, ultimately contributing to the success and well-being of organizations and employees.

Two birds, one stone: minimum wage and child labor

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of quasi-exogenous and substantial increases in the minimum wage on child labor outcomes in Türkiye. The study aims to provide empirical evidence on how minimum wage policies affect child labor outcomes in a developing country context, with a focus on gender and age differences. It seeks to understand whether minimum wage increases lead to a reduction in child labor and whether the impact is different for various demographic groups.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a difference-in-differences methodology using data from the 2012 and 2019 Child Labor Force Survey in Türkiye. The treatment group consists of children from households with minimum wage earners, while the control group comprises children from other households. Various labor market outcomes are analyzed, and robustness checks are performed.FindingsOur findings indicate that while the overall effect of minimum wage increases on child labor is statistically insignificant, there are notable heterogeneous impacts across different demographic groups and employment sectors. Specifically, we observe a significant reduction in the employment probability of girls under the age of 15 and unpaid family workers. Additionally, the likelihood of younger children being wage earners decreases, and the minimum wage increase reduces employment in the agriculture and services sectors for certain subgroups. The impact is also more limited for children in single-adult-worker households.Social implicationsThese results underscore the varying effects of minimum wage policies on child labor and highlight the importance of considering demographic and sectoral differences in policy formulation. Policymakers should complement such policies with income-generating programs and targeted education initiatives to address child labor issues more comprehensively and sustainably.Originality/valueThis study fills a critical gap in the limited international literature on the causal effects of minimum wage policies on child labor incidence. One notable exception, Menon and van der Meulen Rodgers (2018) have explored the impact of minimum wage on child labor in India using regional variation, our study uniquely analyzes the effects at the household level in Türkiye. This approach provides valuable insights into how minimum wage changes affect child labor outcomes in a developing economy context with a high prevalence of minimum wage earners. It also contributes to the broader economic understanding of child labor and household income dynamics.

Informality and Female Labor Income Share

This paper presents original evidence to enhance understanding of the nexus between the informal sector and the economic well-being of women. Women encountering substantial obstacles in accessing formal employment opportunities tend to gravitate towards informal sector employment, which is characterized by lower productivity, lower wages, restricted access to credit and training, and an absence of social security coverage. Using two novel datasets of the size of the informal economy and female labor income share of 148 countries for the period 1991-2018, we show that while informality is associated with lower female labor income share in general, the results vary significantly with respect to countries with different income groups and development level. While there is not generally a significant and consistent association in high-income countries, the correlation is significantly negative in low-income countries and positive in middle-income ones.

Relationship between authentic leadership, service quality, organizational commitment and work engagement: testing a moderated mediation model

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to determine how and why authentic leadership affects service quality. For this aim, a conceptual model comprising authentic leadership, service quality, organizational commitment and work engagement has been proposed.Design/methodology/approachPrivate sector employees from various sectors in North Cyprus were targeted for this research. Through convenience sampling, we collected 298 responses at Time 1 and 265 responses at Time 2. After data cleaning, the total responses available for analysis were 258 (the response rate is 72%). The five-step strategy was applied for translation, and the data were analyzed using IBM AMOS 21.0.FindingsFindings show authentic leadership influences service quality directly and indirectly through organizational commitment. Moreover, work engagement has a moderated mediation position in this relationship.Originality/valueThe research model is a new attempt in the literature and contributes to leadership research by testing the effects of authentic leadership on service quality through the moderated mediation effect of work engagement.

Financial Re-Engineering and Customer Performance of Poultry Business in Nigeria

The poultry business is the largest private sector employer and contributes 25% to Nigeria’s agricultural gross domestic product. The process of capturing poultry business performance using the balanced scorecard performance pillar of customer performance had not been completely integrated in prior research. Therefore, this study looked at how financial re-engineering affected the customer performance of the chicken industry in Nigeria using proxies for business strategy, business processes and systems, business technology, organizational structure, and organizational culture. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study were 4324 active farmers and support services of the key poultry business stakeholders in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The sample size of 450 was determined using Taro Yamane sample size formula. Strata random sampling technique were used to select the respondents from the geo-political zones. A structured and valid questionnaire, using 5 level Likert-scale, were administered to the respondents with a response rate of 84%. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.87 to 0.95. Descriptive and inferential (multiple regression) analysis were used to analyse the data at 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that all financial re-engineering exerted significance effect on customer performance (Adj.R2 = 0.520 F(5,379) = 82.950, P < 0.05). The study concluded that financial re-engineering has significant effect on customer performance of poultry business in Nigeria and recommended that poultry business owners and management in Nigeria should integrate financial re-engineering into their processes in order to optimize production and attract premium customers with attendant total performance expectations.

Protection of Human Rights in the Global Garment Industry

Considerable expansion of the global garment industry, which in recent decades has become one of the largest employment sectors worldwide, has intensified scrutiny of states’ and businesses’ responsibilities, especially as production increasingly shifts to countries with less strict labour regulations. Analysis of the landscape reveals that, significant progress notwithstanding, world dialogue on business responsibilities has still not arrived at a solution. The complex network of stakeholders in the garment industry brings particular challenges to enforcing human-rights protection in this domain. The article explores the intersection of business practices and human rights within the garment sector, focusing on Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, three countries which play a pivotal role in global fashion exports. Examining the legal obligations of state and non-state actors under various UN instruments by analysing the Universal Periodic Review mechanism and the concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, it identifies critical issues in protecting human rights in these countries and briefly also reviews recent advances in the EU in the realm of business and human rights. The paper presents evidence that the growing influence of non-state actors calls for extending the obligations from traditional approaches’, which have focused on state responsibilities. Among the solutions proposed are reforming wage systems and imposing direct human-rights requirements on corporations, supported by more vigorous enforcement.

Alleviating Worker Shortages Through Targeted Subsidies: Evidence from Incentive Payments in Healthcare

Abstract Worker shortages are common in many industries. This paper examines the effect of government subsidies to address these shortages in the context of a reform that tied Medicaid payments to nursing home staffing levels. We find that the reform substantially increased staffing, especially for facilities serving many Medicaid patients. Facilities responded primarily by hiring workers in lower-wage roles rather than increasing hours of incumbent or high-wage staff. This contrasts with null effects we estimate for a non-incentivized rate increase, suggesting that the incentive structure of government payments—rather than just the level—is key to boosting employment in sectors facing worker shortages.