Labour Market Inclusion Research Articles

STIMULATION OF EFFECTIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY

The purpose. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the need to improve the modern state employment policy under the intensification of external migration of the population of Ukraine. Effective institutional-administrative, organizational-economic, and information tools of the state employment policy should be used to create and improve the quality of existing jobs, intensify employment in rural areas, eliminate shadow employment and wages, equalize imbalances in supply and demand in the labor market. Design/Methodology/Approach. To study the need to develop modern state employment policy in Ukraine, the authors used the following research methods - theoretical and logical explanation, statistical analysis, systematization and explanation, semantic analysis. The study was conducted within the framework of institutional economic theory, migration, and state regulation of the economy. Conclusions. The studies have shown that the containment of external migration processes by increasing the number and improving the quality of jobs, in connection with which the task of developing the state employment policy against the background of high migration activity of the population of Ukraine is relevant. It is substantiated that the main challenges of the modern sphere of employment in Ukraine lead to an increase in external migration, namely: formation of labor shortage in the national labor market, intensification of destructive changes in employment; low pay, especially for budget sphere workers, the spread of shadow employment schemes, which leads to a decrease in social protection of employees; strengthening of professional and qualification imbalance in demand and proposals in the labor market due to the mismatch in training the specialists for the needs of the economy. Other challenges are the unformed labor market in rural areas, preservation trends of open and hidden unemployment among the rural population, reducing the demand for labor in rural areas; lack of appropriate conditions for the development of inclusive labor market, the insufficient realization of opportunities and potential of the state employment services in ensuring the innovative development of employment. The objective necessity of realization of effective institutional-administrative, organizational-economic, and information tools of the state employment policy is proved, which largely depends on the natural containment of migration processes in Ukraine. The implementation of the presented tools is focused on economic stabilization of the situation in the country and regions by stimulating the de-shadowing of business and income, increase the welfare of the population, increase of opportunities for young people in employment, and the growth of aspirations of migrant workers to remigration and realization of own business goals on the territory of Ukraine. Originality/value. The value of the research lies in the development of the mechanisms to ensure the competitiveness of national and regional labor markets as a tool for regulating external labor migration, as well as for improvement of the state employment policy, especially the development of innovative and creative types of work.

Precarious but popular? The German mini-job scheme in comparative research on work and welfare

AbstractThis review paper critically examines a range of analytical frameworks used to analyse the German mini-job scheme in comparative research on work and welfare. The approaches examined include labour market dualisation in comparative political economy research and welfare-to-work policies in comparative social policy research. The paper claims that using stylized facts instead of a thorough understanding of the broader context of national employment and social systems leads to misinterpretations in terms of policy learning. By describing the institutional context and main drivers of the evolution of mini-jobs over time, based on variety of data sources, statistics and empirical studies, the paper addresses the critical role of this specific employment scheme for gender equality, largely ignored in the comparative literature.

Taking stock of “Organizational Learning”: Looking back and moving forward

In what ways are organizational learning a relevant theoretical construct? The article taps into a debate on what is relevance to practitioners versus researchers’ responsibility. The publications on organizational learning are on the rise, but the patterns have changed and points to a bifurcation within the field of organizational learning. On one hand, organizational learning is a means to further organizational performance, a fixed goal to be measured, which sometimes demands unlearning. On the other hand, there is a call for organizational learning to be encompassing contemporary societal challenges like widespread digitalization, sustainable production, and an inclusive labor market. This may appear as a cleavage between immediate relevance to practitioners and researchers’ responsibilities for the development of relevant and critical knowledge. I propose to embrace a pragmatist theory of learning that can help address the unknown and include creative imagination directed toward developing an organizational learning field, which is also ready for the future.

Labor market participation and productivity costs for female caregivers of minor male children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DBMD) are X-linked neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness, leading to decreased mobility and multisystem complications. We estimate productivity costs attributable to time spent by a parent caring for a male child under the age of 18 y with DBMD, with particular focus on female caregivers of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who have already lost ambulation. Primary caregivers of males with DBMD in the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance and Research Tracking Network (MD STARnet) were surveyed during 2011-2012 on family quality of life measures, including labor market outcomes. Of 211 respondents, 96 female caregivers of boys with DBMD were matched on state, year of survey, respondent's age, child's age, and number of minor children with controls constructed from Current Population Survey extracts. Regression analysis was used to estimate labor market outcomes and productivity costs. Caregivers of boys with DBMD worked 296 h less per year on average than caregivers of unaffected children, translating to a $8816 earnings loss in 2020 U.S. dollars. Caregivers of boys with DMD with ≥4 y of ambulation loss had a predicted loss in annualized earnings of $23,995, whereas caregivers of boys with DBMD of the same ages who remained ambulatory had no loss of earnings. Female caregivers of non-ambulatory boys with DMD face additional household budget constraints through income loss. Failure to include informal care costs in economic studies could understate the societal cost-effectiveness of strategies for managing DMD that might prolong ambulation.

Performance decline in a low-stakes test at age 15 and educational attainment at age 25: Cross-country longitudinal evidence

IntroductionEducational attainment is associated with important life outcomes including labour market performance, health status, well-being, civic and political participation. An important question is whether it is possible to identify early those students who lack the achievement motivation that is needed to complete a higher education degree. MethodsLongitudinal follow-ups of representative samples of participants in the 2000 and 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) from Australia, Denmark and Switzerland (N = 3110; 1130; and 1962; age = 15 to 27; % females 51%, 51%, 49%; ethnicity/race unknown) were used to identify the association between a measure of effort on a cognitively demanding low-stake task at age 15 – performance decline during the test – and educational attainment at age 25–27. ResultsA one SD difference in performance decline was associated with a 5–6 percentage point difference in the probability of obtaining tertiary-level qualifications (r = −0.15 in Australia; −0.11 in Denmark and −0.11 in Switzerland). We find no evidence of differences in this relationship across genders, socio-economic status and baseline levels of ability in the three countries. The association between performance decline and educational attainment is homogeneous across these groups. Self-reported measures of achievement motivation were not predictive of educational attainment in the three countries. ConclusionsOur work contributes new longitudinal evidence to the body of research in education employing behavioural measures of motivation and engagement. It can be used to understand the potential long-term consequences of disparities in students' preparation to sustain effort over cognitively demanding tasks.

Labour market inclusion of Afghan refugees in Pakistan through Bourdieu's theory of capital

PurposeThis article examines the labour market inclusion of documented and undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan using and extending Bourdieu's theory of capital.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on 22 semi-structured in-depth interviews with both documented and undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan.FindingsThe findings show the low capital endowments of refugees. Their economic capital is shaped by low levels of financial resources, and emotional capital is shaped by their psychological distress and traumata and identity capital takes the form of negative perceptions about them. Their low capital endowments are further reduced through different forms of symbolic violence, such as ambiguous and short-term government policies, bribery and abuse by the police as well as unfair treatment by employers. However, refugees do mobilise their capital endowments to enhance their labour market position. The authors identified resilience as emotional capital, their strategic development of who they are as identity capital as well as social and cultural capital in the form of ethnic and linguistic similarities with locals in finding ways to improve their inclusion in the labour market.Originality/valueThe authors provide insights in the dynamics that lead to and sustain the exclusion and inequalities faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

From “what works” to “making it work”: A practice perspective on evidence‐based standardization in frontline service organizations

AbstractEvidence‐based standards are becoming increasingly influential in frontline services connected to labor market inclusion of vulnerable citizens. To increase our understanding of standardization in such public service delivery, this study draws on interviews and ethnographic fieldwork from two frontline offices in the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (2017–2018) that use the evidence‐based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) standard. Adopting a theoretical perspective of organizational practices, the study highlights two distinct approaches to practicing IPS in the frontline organizations: as a “practice shift” in one organization (i.e., creating and legitimizing radically new service practices involving closer collaboration with employers) and as a “practice revival” in the other (i.e., reinstating more traditional service practices involving a holistic client orientation). Each approach relates to a specific constellation of recruitment practices, dynamics between frontline supervisors and staff, and team integration. The study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it shows the underlying flexibility embedded in standardization and how standards may be implemented and adapted in ways that may either promote more radical change or revive traditional practices. Second, it nuances positions in the literature on the impact of standards on professional service work. On this basis, the study suggests broadening the attention in research on evidence‐based standards in public service delivery from discussions of “what works” to understanding the broader organizational dynamics involved in “making it work.”

Multilevel comprehension for labor market inclusion: a qualitative study on experts' perspectives on Industry 4.0 competences

PurposeGiven the exponential and massive technological disruption in work that Industry 4.0 will lead to, nowadays, authors and practitioners within the field of education and training are witnessing increased attention on the features of and threats to employability and integration in current labor transformations. The purpose of this paper is to address current education and training challenges as related to the fourth industrial revolution by investigating which skills and competences will be crucial for the 4.0 era.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative field study with semi-structured interviews has been conducted. Qualitative data on a sample of N = 16 vocational training experts has been analyzed via the grounded theory approach for a bottom-up perspective on Industry 4.0 competences.FindingsData analysis revealed a partial consensus between current scientific literature and practitioners' views on skills and competences for Industry 4.0. Indeed, practioners support the need for a mix of competences comprising the broad group of disciplines of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), technical skills and transversal competences. Moreover, the perspective of practitioners supports a multilevel comprehension of the needs of Industry 4.0 for education and training. Drawing on these findings, an evaluation tool for an applied field intervention for inclusion in the labor market is proposed.Originality/valueThe paper advances current knowledge within the field of education and training by proposing a novel perspective to address market integration as a means to tackle the risk of technological disruption.

Next to Nothing: The Impact of the Norwegian Introduction Programme on Female Immigrants’ Labour Market Inclusion

AbstractIn 2003, Norway implemented an ‘Introduction Programme’ that aimed to increase labour market inclusion among newly arrived immigrants. Its main objectives were to facilitate free courses in Norwegian language training and social studies, and education or on-the-job training. The participants were given an allowance to attend the programme. This paper uses administrative register data to evaluate the effect of the Norwegian introduction programme on female immigrants’ employment and earnings prospects. The sample consists of female immigrants from Asia or Africa who immigrated to Norway 18 months before or after the implementation of the introduction programme. The study measures their probability of being employed and their mean earnings 4–6 and 7–9 years after immigration. The results show that the Norwegian introduction programme had a small but significant effect on women’s employment, but not on their earnings. This article suggests that the small effect of the programme on employment and non-effect on earnings may imply a displacement effect rather than an improvement in language skills and labour market skills.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Middle-income Countries

Coming on top of long-term employment challenges, the COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted economies around the world. Due to the nature of their labour markets, middle-income countries (MICs), including India, have experienced greater employment declines than advanced economies. Some sectors have been hit harder than others, while certain groups—including women, youth, migrants and those in the informal economy—have felt the brunt of the crisis even more strongly. The crisis has raised unemployment and, even more, has also pushed many out of the labour force, raising inactivity. Overall, the crisis has exacerbated existing inequalities in countries and across countries. The major challenge for MICs is to finance the continuing efforts to battle the crisis while shifting to a job-rich and inclusive recovery. Key lessons have already emerged, which are relevant for India and other developing countries, including the importance of building a more resilient and inclusive labour market through strong institutions and policies. JEL Codes: E24, E60, G01, J08, J60

Accessing the public workforce: Organisational recruitment practices and the inclusion or exclusion of individuals of immigrant origin

Organisations are important gatekeepers in the labour market inclusion of immigrants and their children. Research has regularly documented ethnic discrimination in hiring decisions. Aiming to further our understanding of the role of organisations in influencing the professional trajectories of individuals of immigrant origin, this paper investigates the recruitment practices of public administrations. Drawing on approaches from organisational sociology and a qualitative case study of public administrations in the German state of Berlin, the article identifies three crucial elements of organisational decision-making affecting the recruitment of staff of immigrant origin: decisions regarding advertisement strategies, formal criteria, and individual candidates. Further, the article shows the underlying decision-making rationalities and the role of organisational contexts and ethnic stereotypes for recruitment-related decisions.

Bridging the state and market logics of refugee labour market inclusion \u2013 a comparative study on the inclusion activities of German professional chambers

Due to their high numbers, refugees’ labour market inclusion has become an important topic for Germany in recent years. Because of a lack of research on meso-level actors’ influences on labour market inclusion and the transcendent role of organizations in modern societies, the article focuses on the German professional chambers’ role in the process of refugee inclusion. The study shows that professional chambers are intermediaries between economic actors, the government and refugees, which all follow their own logics and ideas of labour market inclusion (the state, the market and the community logic). The measures taken by professional chambers mainly reflect a governmental logic (to reduce refugee unemployment) combined with a market logic (to provide human resources to economic actors). A community logic (altruism) only comes into play as a rather unintended consequence of measures addressing the other two logics. The measures of two types of professional chambers are compared. Close similarities between them reveal that the organization type is of theoretical relevance to explain the type of measures organizations opt for.

The specifics of selected agricultural commodities in international trade

Purpose. This paper evaluates the involvement of three selected agricultural commodities (rice, coffee and soya) in international trade. The aim is to analyze the specification of foreign trade in selected commodities and assess their different significance between representations in domestic markets and exports. This article will also assess other contexts related to international trade in these three commodities, including the negative effects on their trade. Based on the set goal, a research question was asked which evaluates the different position of the examined agricultural commodities on world export markets in relation to domestic consumption.
 Methodology / approach. The theoretical anchoring of the issue under study are the approaches taken to international economic relations with the emphasis on the specific features of agricultural trade. The methodological framework of the present study is based on the systematic analysis of the spatial distribution of production capacities, the territorial analysis of exports and imports within the world agricultural market and qualitative evaluation of the specifics of selected export commodities and their role in the economy of countries, including labour market importance and in the possibilities of their use.
 Results. The paper presents the results of the involvement of the rice, coffee and soya in international trade analysis. Most rice production is consumed on domestic markets. Unlike rice, most of the coffee produced is exported and less is consumed within the growing countries themselves. Although domestic coffee consumption is increasing, more than 70% of world production is exported. Soya bean production has increased significantly over the past 50 years as a result of the rising demand for animal feedstuff and biofuels. Almost three quarters of soya bean production is consumed as feedstuff.
 Originality / scientific novelty. The main contribution of the article is in the application level the elaboration of a comparative view of three selected agricultural commodities. At the theoretical level of the study, it represents a contribution to the discussion within the approaches to the organization of global agricultural trade, the interdependence of economic policies of states, trade ties and the impact on labour markets in relation to production. Agricultural commodities remain an important item in world international trade. However, their share in the total volume is gradually declining. They play an important role in the maintenance of individual countries, but at the same time they are of great economic importance, although we can also mention the less positive aspects of their production, including their impact on the environment. At the same time, it is necessary to realize that this sector is essential for human survival and also that agriculture is important from the point of food security for the population, which can contribute to and increase the level of agricultural protectionism (resilience to world market disruptions or uncontrolled import of genetically modified (GM) food and the transmission of animal diseases). Agriculture is one of the most sensitive economic sectors in the world. Nevertheless, agricultural exports have several economic benefits, including stimulating a wide range of agricultural-related industries, transport suppliers, processing and farm inputs.
 Practical value / implications. The production of agricultural commodities is of great importance to the economies of individual states, where it contributes to the creation of direct, indirect and induced jobs. The agrarian sector is a key sector, especially for less developed countries. The analysis confirmed the high tradability of all commodities examined and is documented by their involvement in the international division of labour in the global projection.

Pensionable age vs cross-country diversity of economic activity of the near-elderly

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether cross-country differences in pensionable age explain such differences in economic activity of people at near-retirement age.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study uses regression models for macro-panel encompassing 21 European countries in the period 2008–2014.FindingsEmpirical results indicate that pensionable age is a determinant of cross-country differences in employment rate in the near-retirement age group, and less a factor differentiating average effective retirement age. It turns out that other factors matter, including salaries and wages as percentage of GDP (treated as a proxy for the occupational composition of populations across the countries studied), self-employment, participation in education and training, or self-perceived health.Social implicationsThe problem of economic activity at the near-retirement age is complex and cannot be limited to legal regulations concerning pensionable age. The policy aiming at stimulating the economic activity of the near-elderly should include actions on many sides including labour market, pension system, education, training, or health care.Originality/valueThe results complement studies based on the single-country approach and demonstrate that pensionable age does not account for cross-country differences in terms of average effective age of retirement when controlling for other factors. Moreover, factors differentiating effective retirement age and employments rates across countries studied are not similar.

Gendered skilled migration: American women in China

ABSTRACT Skilled migration has become increasingly gendered. Situating within the context of globalization and mobility, this article examines skilled women migrants from the U.S. to China. Based on in-depth interviews conducted in the Pearl River Delta Region of China, this article aims to address these questions: What are the factors that influence skilled women migrants’ agency in migration decision-making? How is agency reflected in skilled women’s post-migration experience, including labor market and social relationships in the Chinese context? This research revealed a paradoxical dynamic in skilled migration. First, even for skilled migrants, the capacity to exercise agency in migration decisions is not equal between men and women. Being highly skilled does not guarantee gender equality in distribution of domestic work and responsibilities. Secondly, despite their high levels of education and skills, women migrants had limited options in the labor market and may become more economically dependent on their husbands after moving to China. Thirdly, although the women migrants were not all employed in professional sectors, they all took initiatives to fulfill their talent through home-schooling, and volunteering for community building events. Through these activities, the American women managed to use their existing skills or develop new skills to cope with the post-migration realities; nevertheless, their agency is ultimately constrained by the larger structural forces, including the socially constructed definitions of skills, and conventional gender norms and practices.

Does employer discrimination contribute to the subordinate labor market inclusion of individuals of a foreign background?

Advanced labor markets are typically stratified by origin with a majority ethnic group occupying more desirable (high-skilled) positions and subordinated ethnic minorities occupying less desirable (low-skilled) positions. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether employer recruitment choices reinforce these patterns. This would be the case if employers were more reluctant to hire subordinate minority job applicants for high-skilled positions than for low-skilled occupations. We use experimental correspondence audit data derived from 6407 job applications sent to job openings in the Swedish labor market, where the ‘foreignness’ of the job applicants has been randomly assigned to otherwise equally merited job applications. We find that negative discrimination of job applicants with ‘foreign’ names is very similar in the high-skilled and low-skilled segments of the labor market. There is no significant relative ethnic difference in chances of callbacks by skill level. Because baseline callback rates are higher in high-skilled occupations, discrimination however translates into a significantly larger percentage unit callback difference between ‘natives’ and ‘foreigners’ in these occupations, in particular between male job applicants. That is, the number of (male) ‘foreign’ job seekers subject to ethnic discrimination in terms of actually being denied a job chance is higher in the highly skilled segment, but the effects on the relative scale do not suggest this to be driven by employers being particularly less welcoming of ‘foreigners’ in this segment.

Collaborative Innovation in Labor Market Inclusion

AbstractThis article deploys the concept of “collaborative innovation” to discuss key stakeholders’ and service users' experiences of innovative labor market inclusion services. We draw on work by Sørensen and Torfing (2011, 2016, 2017) to frame collaborative innovation as a distinctive approach to the coproduction of services that respond to user needs, and highlight the importance of governance and leadership practices that foster mutual learning and boundary spanning innovation. The article reports on 102 interviews with service users (in this case, unemployed lone parents) and 117 interviews with key stakeholders involved in local partnerships. We identify benefits from such collaborative approaches in terms of innovative service design and positive outcomes for service users. We conclude that policy makers should consider the potential added value of collaborative innovation in labor market inclusion.

DOMINANTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF HUMAN CAPITAL AS A STRATEGIC COMPONENT OF CHANGE

The subject of the study is the conceptual, theoretical, methodological and applied provisions of state regulation of development and reproduction of human capital for the national economic system management. Methodology. General scientific methods were used in the research process. The method of comparison was used for generalizing the approaches of different researchers on the main dominants of development and reproduction of human capital. Analysis was used to determine the quantitative and qualitative parameters of the dominants of human capital. Syn-thesis was used to determine the methodological principles of labour market regula-tion and human capital development. Induction and deduction were used for deter-mining approaches to the main dominants of human capital. The aim of the article is to generalize various approaches to the main dominants of development and reproduction of human capital on different bases and purposes, to develop a modern theoretical basis for the development of human capital in the country’s economy. The results of the study have shown that to ensure the effectiveness of state regulation of the development and reproduction of human capital, it is necessary to create an appropriate social environment and conditions that promote the fullest use of knowledge and intellectual, creative potential of individuals. Conclusion. The composition of the bases and goals of the dominants of development and reproduction of human capital in Ukraine, in contrast to the existing one, should include labour market regulation policy, national model of combating unemployment, working capacity, cost of human capital and human development index. This will ensure investment, development and human capital management in Ukraine. Analysis of the methodological principles of labor market regulation and human capital development of the European Union and Ukraine, and problems of human capital development in Ukraine allowed us to conclude that they differ significantly. Their difference is explained by different levels of economic and social situation of countries and other factors, in particular the low speed of dissemination and implementation of progressive results of investment in education and science. The practical significance lies in increasing the scientific substantiation of theoretical provisions and practical measures to ensure the mechanism of state regulation of development and reproduction of human capital is in accordance with transformational changes in social relations and market conditions, processes of globalization.

КЛЮЧОВІ ЕЛЕМЕНТИ ДЕРЖАВНОГО МЕХАНІЗМУ РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ РИНКУ ПРАЦІ В КОНТЕКСТІ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ПРОДУКТИВНОЇ ЗАЙНЯТОСТІ

Ensuring productive employment in Ukraine is associated with solving a number of important tasks: achieving sustainable functioning of the economic system and strengthening the competitiveness of the state, improving the level and quality of life, effective use of labor potential and sustainable functioning of social protection. Their solution requires the system of state regulation of the labor market to review the dominant views on state influence on the development and functioning of the labor market, modernize the mechanism of interaction of its structural elements, build a qualitatively new management system, transform labor relations. The need to find new approaches to solving the problems of labor market development and the formation of a better mechanism for its regulation in Ukraine is due to changes in the economy, lack of clear and balanced employment policy, the accumulation of serious problems in the workplace and changing the content, nature and structure of employment under the influence of modern world trends. The latest requirements and challenges of modern economic crises require the development of new adaptation mechanisms in the labor market, which require all labor market institutions to achieve their own goals and implement tools to create favorable conditions for productive employment. The article substantiates the decisive role of state regulation in ensuring productive employment and demonstrates the structure of the mechanism of state regulation of the labor market, which allowed to present it as a set of interconnected elements that ensure effective functioning of a balanced and inclusive labor market and achieving productive employment through special tools, methods and levers of influence. The basic principles of forming a modern mechanism are outlined, which play the role of methodological guidelines and reveal the content and requirements for the main actors of the labor market. The main directions of state regulation of the domestic labor market to minimize risks in the labor sphere and create favorable conditions for productive employment are proposed.

Gender-based violence and the social and labour market inclusion of victims: a reasoned approach in the italian context

El presente estudio propone un análisis crítico y razonado de la situación legal que caracteriza, en Italia, el tema de la violencia de género, con especial referencia al perfil de la inserción socio-laboral de las víctimas. Considerado el fenómeno “violencia de género” en su dimensión conceptual, se toma en consideración el marco normativo italiano, tanto a nivel nacional como regional, para luego razonar sobre un caso de estudio en particular, representado por la inserción socio-laboral de las víctimas “doblemente vulnerables” en razón de su delicada condición de migrantes. Por último, se proponen algunas reflexiones finales