Labor Market Research Articles

Analysis of Interconnectedness in Indian Subcontinent Remittances from the Gulf Cooperation Countries

Indian subcontinent is a major remittance receiver. With similar labor market characteristics, their workers go to same host countries. Therefore, their labor is substitutable for each other with high degree of connectedness with direct consequences on remittance inflows. Yet, due to social and political considerations in host countries, substitution may not take place. The issue is an empirical question. We study interactions of remittance inflows into India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka via frequency connectedness. We find a low degree of spillovers across countries, i.e., dynamics of remittance inflows in each country are largely explained by internal factors, not due to spillovers from other countries. That is, remittance inflows in these countries are essentially independent. We also observe that information processing is faster in the short-run than the long-run indicating that market participants are aware of dynamics in other markets. The findings have policy implications for unemployment and foreign exchange.

The Trichotomy of Internationalization of Higher Education, Emigration and Social Policies: a National Level Research Case in Albania on University Youth as Potential Emigrants

Aim: The research aims to analyse the trichotomy of the main pillars (education, emigration, and policies) by measuring the opinions of youth, based on the tendency of new emigration flows, the education in university that prepares them as highly skilled workers for global trades (due to curricula, contemporary preparation with knowledge according to the labour market acquisitions, and internationalisation policies), and the identification of push factors of emigration of university youth as the new and current emigration tendencies in Albania. Methods: To guarantee a national-level measurement of the university youth emigration potential, due to the mentioned indicators, the empirical data gained from the quantitative online survey research on the measurement of opinions of (N=1010) Albanian university youth, at the national level of (N=7) (all) public universities in Albania, in (N=13) departments on social sciences profile, analysed by the Statistical program IMB SPSS 26, in different statistical approach analysis, such as descriptive, frequency, cross-tabs and Kurtosis. Results: Measuring the indicators, the results show that the internationalisation of universities prepares students for the international labour market, current social policies do not favour them in the labour market, and the current economic, political and social factors turned on the main push factors of potential emigration of university youth. Conclusion: The internationalisation of universities prepares students with skills for local and international labour markets. Still, the current economic, social, and cultural anomic situation and the lack of efficient employment policies are the main push factors for the emigration of university youth as high-skill workers.

Unintended consequences of maternity leave entitlements on female labor market outcomes in China

This study provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of maternity leave entitlements on labor market outcomes for women of childbearing age in urban China. We exploit a reform during which approximately two-thirds of the provinces in China extended their leave entitlements from 2014 to 2016 and employ a triple-difference strategy to deal with the identification. The results suggest unintended effects, as leave entitlement extensions led to a reduction in the likelihood of working, formal employment, and wage for women of childbearing age relative to their counterparts. We further establish that greater reliance on employer liability may be the main mechanism behind the unintended effects, highlighting the importance of payment schemes. This study provides novel evidence and mechanisms for the labor market effect of maternity leave in women of childbearing age and provides new insights for maternity leave related policy designs.

Teachers navigating the diversified Swedish school market: lock-in and exclusion in the local labour market

ABSTRACT This study examines the consequences that a highly diversified school market has on the teacher labour market. By interviewing 43 teachers in two different local school markets, one large and highly segregated and one smaller and less segregated, the teacher´s views and attitudes towards competing schools, different working conditions and educational ideas have been analysed. The results indicate that teachers in the more segregated school market compare their current workplace to others in terms of pupil composition. In the less segregated school market, there are small differences in terms of pupil composition, and the comparisons tend to focus on differences in organisational or educational ideas. The study shows that teachers are locked into various types of schools, where the diversity of the schools themselves is a consequence of the emerging diversification of the school market. The nature of the locking-in effects can be connected to the characteristics of the diversification in the local school market.

Interdisciplinary Scientific Evidence for a New Agenda on The Challenges of Operations Management in the Built Environment in Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to identify scientific evidence concerning the legal dimension of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Brazil, serving as a foundation for guidelines on a new agenda addressing the challenges of operations management with a specific focus on university intellectual property (IP) in the built environment. Theoretical Framework: Two theoretical axes were addressed: (1) Innovation and the legal dimension of AI and (2) Intellectual property (IP) in the university context. Method: The research was exploratory and descriptive, employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, carried out through: (a) a bibliographic review; (b) empirical research, with textual analysis. Voyant Tools software was used for the analysis. Results and Discussion: The results of the textual analysis, including Cirrus and Link, revealed six scientific pieces of evidence, enabling the development of a robust set of guidelines on the subject. Research Implications: The research provided insights that supported the proposal of a new agenda, fostering a feedback loop between theory and practice on the topic. Originality/Value: The interdisciplinary approach to the topic underscores the originality of this research. Its value lies in broadening the debate on management in the built environment, highlighting the role of AI and university IP, topics with great potential to contribute to innovations in the bidirectional flow between academia and the labor market.

Tertiary education as social policy: Comparative theoretical perspectives

Abstract In this paper, we conduct an in-depth review of and commentary on two frameworks for international comparative work focused on education systems and skill formation – specifically, welfare regime and production regime approaches. We focus on how tertiary education is understood to function relationally within a national policy repertoire and explore the interplay between education and economic systems. Whereas the welfare regime literature illuminates why some regimes are conducive to human capital production and create more equitable educational and labour market opportunities, the production regime literature focuses on the ways that actors such as government, educational institutions, and unions optimise skill formation. These two theoretical perspectives offer both rival and complementary explanations of varying patterns in public investment, differentiation in education systems, and participation rates in tertiary education across countries. Our analytical account provides useful insights for understanding different national education policies and framing future research, including informing these perspectives with the more recent theoretical contributions of the social investment approach. In relation to changing conceptions of the knowledge economy, education, skill development, and the nature of employment, these two theoretical perspectives continue to provide useful conceptual lenses to examine the education/skill /employment nexus.

New Trends of Thought in Response to Post-Pandemic Work Precariousness Among Second-Generation Romanian Citizens in Spain

Drawing on 65 in-depth interviews with young Romanians between 22 and 33 years old, the contribution of this article is to offer an innovative analysis of the work experiences of second-generation young people who, having studied and completed their degrees in Spain during the pandemic, are developing their skills and creativity in a difficult labour market. I argue that unlike their parents’ generation, who in many cases have returned home or practice mobility, this generation wishes to remain in Spain. Consequently, the (im)mobility experienced by second-generation young people has become a fundamental post-pandemic trend. Three interlinked profiles were identified: (1) young graduates doing work for which they are overqualified, who want to find better jobs; (2) young people who have completed master’s or doctoral degrees and now have their own business, are applying for research funding or are unemployed; and (3) unemployed graduates who are making a living from self-employment or aspire to have their own business. The conclusions highlight new trends of thought among young Romanians educated and trained during the pandemic in terms of how to overcome work precariousness and live in Spain.

Sexual harassment leads to economic inequality

This study examines sexual and gender-based harassment by employees and managers in the Swedish labour market. Using data from the work Environment Survey, we show that women are subjected to this kind of harassment to a greater extent than men, but that both men and women are more vulnerable than the opposite sex when they are in the minority in their workplace. As wages are generally higher in male-dominated workplaces, this means that women are more vulnerable to harassment in workplaces with high wages, and men in workplaces with low wages. The study finds evidence that these patterns increase economic inequality in two ways. First, one survey experiment shows that harassment discourages women and men from seeking employment where their gender is in the minority. Secondly, an analysis of how people switch workplaces over time shows that harassment leads to women leaving relatively well-paid workplaces with a large proportion of men, in favour of lower-paid workplaces with fewer male colleagues.

O IMPACTO DA INTELIGÊNCIA ARTIFICIAL NAS RELAÇÕES DE TRABALHO

The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in labor relations is significantly transforming the professional environment, impacting the organization, execution, and control of various work activities. This article aims to analyze the effects of AI on the labor market, with a focus on protecting workers' rights. Initially, the implementation of AI has raised concerns about the replacement of workers by machines and automated systems, especially in repetitive and operational sectors. The study addresses the need to adapt labor laws to ensure the maintenance of workers' fundamental rights, such as dignity, protection against arbitrary dismissal, the right to privacy, limitation of working hours, and respect for adequate breaks, even in highly digitalized environments. Thus, the methodology used in this study analyzes, through a bibliographic review based on different ideological currents and arguments, with the aim of presenting in an academic manner to society through research and analysis, in the legal and ethical context, the need to adapt labor laws to guarantee workers' rights in the face of the advancement of artificial intelligence. Finally, it is concluded that, despite the transformations imposed by Al, it is possible to guarantee the full protection of workers' rights through inclusive public policies, updated legislation and the strengthening of unions and workers' organizations. Thus, the use of Al can be an ally for the development of the labor market, as long as equity and social justice are ensured in the implementation of these technologies.

Balancing heterogeneous assembly line with multi-skilled human-robot collaboration via Adaptive cooperative co-evolutionary algorithm

In human-centred manufacturing, deploying collaborative robots (cobots) is recognized as a promising strategy to enhance the inclusiveness and resilience of production systems. Despite notable progress, current production scheduling methods for human-robot collaboration (HRC) still fail to adequately accommodate workforce heterogeneity, significantly reducing their adoption and implementation. To address this gap, we introduce a novel model for the Assembly Line Worker Integration and Balancing Problem considering Multi-skilled Human-Robot Collaboration (ALWIBP-mHRC). This model aims to optimize task scheduling between semi-skilled workers and cobots, aiming to maximize productivity and minimize costs. It features a multi-skilled human-robot collaboration (mHRC) task assignment scheme that selects the optimal assembly/collaboration mode from seven scenarios, based on specific task requirements and resource-skill availability, thus maximizing resource-skill complementarity. To tackle the complexities of this problem, we propose an adaptive multi-objective cooperative co-evolutionary algorithm (a-MOCC) that incorporates a sub-problem decomposition and decoding framework tailored for ALWIBP-mHRC, enhanced by an adaptive evolutionary strategy based on Q-learning (Q-Coevolution). Experimental tests demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method compared to other established metaheuristic algorithms across various instance sizes, underscoring its effectiveness in enhancing the productivity of production systems for semi-skilled workers. The findings are significant for investment decision-making and resource planning, as they highlight the strategic value of integrating cobots in large-scale heterogeneous workforce production. This work underscores the potential of cobots to mitigate skill gaps in assembly systems, laying the groundwork for future research and industrial strategies focused on enhancing productivity, inclusivity, and adaptability in a dynamically changing labour market.

Bi-causality between gender inequality and wage gap and its impact on economic growth

It is imperative that research be conducted on the intricate and important subject of how gender inequality and the pay gap connect to the development of India's economy. There are significant differences between the genders in a range of social, health, educational, and professional possibilities in India, just as there are in many other regions of the globe. In India, this is also the case. The main factor that contributes to the gender pay gap is the fact that women get less money than men do for doing the same job. A cycle of gender inequality is maintained and exacerbated by the salary disparity that exists today. In addition, the gender pay gap restricts women's ability to achieve economic independence, which in turn restricts their opportunities to pursue higher levels of education and healthcare. This has repercussions for the expansion of human capital, which plays an essential role in the development of the economy. Women who earn less than males are less inclined to invest in their own education and professional development, which in turn lowers the general level of competition in the labour market in developing countries.

Regional government institutions and the capacity for women to reconcile career and motherhood

Abstract Declining fertility and the persistent underrepresentation of women in the labour market are key concerns of our time. The fact that they overlap is not fortuitous. Traditionally, women everywhere have faced a conflict in balancing their career ambitions with family responsibilities. Yet, the pressures arising from this conflict vary enormously from one place to another. Existing research has tended to overlook the geographical features of this dilemma, which could result in an inadequate understanding of the issue and lead to ineffective policy responses. This article examines how variations in the quality of regional institutions affect women’s capacity to reconcile career and motherhood and, consequently, gender equality within Europe. Using panel data from 216 regions across 18 European countries, we uncover a positive effect of regional institutional quality on fertility rates, taking into account variations in female employment. Moreover, we show that European regions with better government quality provide a more reliable environment for managing the career/motherhood dilemma often faced by women. In contrast, women living in regions with weaker government institutions are more constrained in both their career and childbearing options.

Becoming Eligible for Long-Term Care Insurance in China Brought More Ageing at Home: Evidence from a Pilot City.

Person-centered long-term care systems, integral to healthy ageing, should empower older people to achieve ageing in place. Yet evidence on the impact of the design of long-term care systems on older people's choice of places of ageing, especially that from developing countries, is limited. Taking the introduction of Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) in City X of China as a policy shock, we examined the impact of becoming eligible for LTCI on program beneficiaries' choice of places of ageing-institution or home-before they started to receive any actual benefit. Based on our analysis of the administrative data of all LTCI applicants between July 2017 and September 2020 from City X, we found that becoming eligible for LTCI increased an older-person's probability of choosing home as her place of ageing even before she received any benefit by around 16 percentage points, and this positive impact was larger for those insured of higher education level or of higher disability grade. By bring more ageing in place, the LTCI in City X promoted healthy ageing. Our study suggests that the specifics of the LTCI program like who could receive subsidies, family values, and family members' engagement in labor market could all work together to shape the substitution pattern between home and institutional care.

ACCREDITATION EXPERTISE OF THE “GENERAL MEDICINE” TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE SPECIALTY 222 “MEDICINE” OF THE SECOND (MASTER’S) LEVEL OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT IVAN HORBACHEVSKY TERNOPIL NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF UKRAINE

The article characterizes the procedure of accreditation expertise of the “General Medicine” training program for the second (master’s) level in the specialty 222 “Medicine”, implemented at Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The relevance of the topic is determined by new approaches to the accreditation of educational programs in Ukraine, which require the implementation of autonomous methods for managing the quality of education in accordance with European standards. The results of the expertise carried out by the members of the expert group and the sectoral expert council of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA) was analysed. The article describes how the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Accreditation Commission, and the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance conduct monitoring of training programs through assessing their compliance with established standards. The research shows that accreditation not only determines the quality of education but also helps identify the strengths and weaknesses of training programs, providing information to all stakeholders. The main results of the expert evaluation highlight a high level of training for specialists in line with current labour market demands and emphasize the importance of adapting curricula to the conditions of healthcare reform. The article underscores the significance of ongoing monitoring of education quality to enhance the competitiveness of graduates. The manuscript focuses on the uniqueness and advantages of the training program, its evaluation, as well as the recommendations and suggestions provided by NAQA experts.

Employment of young people with disabilities: The potential of social partnership of universities, municipalities and the labor market of Ukraine.

This study analyzed the existing global experience of university and labor market partnerships concerning the employment of youth with disabilities. It was found that current cooperation models are implemented locally, in a fragmented manner, and are limited to interactions between universities and large enterprises. The research aimed to explore the current state of meeting the needs of students with disabilities in terms of providing educational services and employment opportunities and to analyze the interaction between universities, municipalities, and the labor market to improve employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. The study considered a survey of three target groups from different regions of Ukraine (105 students with disabilities, 321 university faculty members, and 102 enterprise managers) conducted to study the current state of needs satisfaction in providing educational services and employing people with disabilities. The findings indicated a lack of coordination among stakeholders, an absence of systematization, and organization in addressing the issue of improving the employment of youth with disabilities. The research enabled the identification of existing and desired connections between the subjects of social partnership. A social partnership model between universities, municipalities, and the labor market was developed to improve the employment of youth with disabilities. The study results are promising, as implementing the social partnership model will broadly impact society.

The Significance of Higher Education in Facilitating Labour Market and Student Migration in Fiji

In Fiji, labour shortages have significantly increased over the past decade. As the education system improved, many individuals opted to migrate in search of better educational opportunities and job prospects abroad. The policy brief focuses on the impact of migration on individuals seeking adequate education and training. It is evident that a growing number of people chose to pursue further education by moving abroad. As highlighted in the National Economic Summit, migration abroad for educational, employment, or permanent purposes is a significant factor. This poses a considerable challenge to Fiji's economic progress, as the country faces a shortage of skilled and educated workers to meet the demands of the labour market. As Fiji advances in its development, these shortages could have serious implications for the nation's future. It is crucial for all stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, economists, and other professionals, to play their part in addressing these issues. Without enough skilled and educated workers, Fiji may struggle to maintain its position. Over time, the country may have fewer local individuals contributing innovative and creative ideas, leading to a decline in human capital formation, which could persist as a long-term issue. The present study constitutes an analytical research paper that investigates the effects of student and labour migration on economic development and labour market dynamics. Special attention is given to the role and contributions of higher education in shaping these impacts.

Labour market segmentation, self-employment, and Hukou reform

Abstract This study aims to examine the impact of the Hukou system, a labour mobility-restricting institution, on the decision to engage in non-agricultural self-employment in China, reflecting the dynamic process of labour transition from contractual work to self-employment within the country’s evolving labour market. By using the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) dataset, the results show that urban migrants, who own rural Hukou but migrate to large cities, are more likely to turn to self-employment than local citizens conditional on individual characteristics. Taking advantage of the 2014 Hukou reform, we provide supporting evidence that Hukou discrimination is a key factor in explaining the higher self-employment rate among representative urban migrants. Further heterogeneous analysis suggests that low-income migrants experience greater constraints imposed by the Hukou system, while high-income level migrants are more likely to turn to self-employment voluntarily.

Artificial Intelligence and Employment Transformation: A Multi-Sector Analysis of Workforce Disruption and Adaptation

This academic investigation examines the bifurcated impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on contemporary labor markets, analyzing both displacement effects and employment generation across multiple sectors (n=327) during 2020-2024. Through a mixed-methods approach combining econometric analysis of industry-level data, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (n=142), and longitudinal case studies of AI-implementing firms (n=47), we demonstrate that while AI automation has led to a 23.4% reduction in traditional middle-skill jobs across manufacturing, logistics, and administrative sectors, it has simultaneously generated a 31.7% increase in new employment categories, particularly in AI development, human-AI collaboration, and digital transformation roles. The findings reveal significant sectoral variations in job displacement rates (ranging from 8.2% to 37.6%) and identify critical factors influencing successful workforce transition, including the timing of reskilling initiatives, the nature of institutional support, and the elasticity of labor market responses. Notably, organizations that implemented proactive reskilling programs achieved a 64% higher retention rate of displaced workers compared to those utilizing reactive approaches. The article also uncovers an emerging "adaptation gap" wherein 42% of displaced workers face significant barriers to transitioning into new roles, primarily due to misaligned skill development programs and insufficient support infrastructure. These findings have important implications for policymakers, business leaders, and educational institutions in developing targeted interventions to facilitate effective workforce adaptation in an AI-driven economy.

A Web-Based Intervention to Support a Growth Mindset and Well-Being in Unemployed Young Adults: Development Study.

Engaging young adults in the labor market is vital for economic growth and well-being. However, the path to employment often presents setbacks that impact motivation and psychological functioning. Research suggests exploring positive psychology interventions in job-seeking and scaling the delivery of these using technology. However, dropout rates are high for self-administered psychological interventions on digital platforms. This challenge needs to be addressed for such platforms to be effective conveyors of psychological interventions. This study addresses this challenge by exploring user-oriented methods and proposes persuasive features for the design and development of a new web-based intervention targeting young unemployed adults. This study aims to provide an overview of a new positive psychology wise intervention, including its theoretical underpinnings and human-centered design methodology, targeting young, unemployed adults. Researchers collaborated with designers, developers, and stakeholders to design a web-based positive psychology intervention that leverages evidence-based wise interventions. Key improvements and adaptations were explored through formative usability testing with 13 unemployed young adults aged between 18 and 25 years (the target population). Qualitative usability testing data were collected, analyzed, and integrated into the ongoing design process as iterative improvements. The result of this study is a modular intervention web application named RØST, designed to align with the user needs and the preferences of the specific end-user group of unemployed young adults. During the project, this application evolved from early concept sketches and prototypes into a developed solution ready for further testing and use. Insights from both end-user feedback and rich user observation gained in the study were used to refine the content and the design. To increase targeted end users' motivation, persuasive design features including praise, rewards, and reminders were added. The web application was designed primarily to be used on mobile phones using text messaging for reminders. The development process included technical and data protection considerations. This study offers valuable insights into developing psychological or behavioral interventions to support unemployed young adults by documenting the design process and the adaptation and combination of diverse theoretical and empirical foundations. Involving stakeholders and end users in the development enabled relatable content development and resolved potential usability problems. An essential implication is the finding that end-user feedback and insights are crucial in shaping interventions. However, we experienced tensions between the evidence-based interventions and the human-centered design approaches. These tensions were not resolved and highlighted a need for ongoing user motivation support through monetary rewards, which were incorporated into the final web app design.

Factors of employment of graduates of higher educational institutions in Guinea

Employment of higher education graduates is a challenge for governments in both developed and developing countries. This article highlights factors that explain the professional integration of graduates leaving universities. This study demonstrates the variables influencing the employment of young tertiary graduates. The model used allows us to establish economic relationships between exogenous and endogenous variables. The variables are qualitative and dichotomous in nature with multiple modalities. The presented results allow us to determine which exogenous variable has a greater impact on the endogenous variable so that governments can consider it in youth employment policies. We also advise young graduates in terms of finding a job. The purpose of this study is to promote the professional integration of Guinean higher education graduates. The main objective is to identify the problems faced in the labour market by Guinean higher education graduates. Using SPSS software, we have obtained the following results: the higher the level of education, the greater the chances of finding a job; personal initiative gives a better chance of finding a job than any other method of finding a job; men have an advantage over women in terms of employment opportunities; married people are luckier than single people; those who have had a previous job are also more likely to find a job than those who have not had; graduates who have lived abroad are more likely to find a job than those who have not lived abroad.