Low-skilled Labor Research Articles

Industry-specific Labour Demand, Post-prison Employment and Recidivism – Evidence from Finland

Abstract Objectives To test the effect of local, industry-specific labour demand on employment and recidivism following a person’s release from a prison in Finland. Methods This study was an observational study based on administrative data. The data included all working-aged men (N = 33,270) released from prison between 2007 and 2018 in Finland. We analysed the industry of the employers descriptively and studied the effect of labour demand on employment and recidivism rates post-release with a linear probability model. Labour demand was measured by counting new employments that began in the first 30 days post-release in the region the subject resided in at the time of release. Employment and recidivism were analysed with a 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results Of the study population, 11.1% were employed and 44.7% recidivated in the first 6 months. We found the most common employers to be the construction and manufacturing industries along with temporary work agencies. Our models indicated that the low-skill labour demand in construction increased the likelihood of employment (β = 0.0108, se = 0.0026) but did not reduce the risk of recidivism (β = 0.0030, se = 0.0045). Conclusions Higher labour demand may not lead to lower recidivism in all contexts. As the effect of labour demand may be driven by specific societal or labour market characteristics, further research should focus on identifying the characteristics that affect recidivism and post-prison employment. As this study may only be generalisable to the Finnish prison population, similar studies are needed from varied contexts.

Migrants in the Moscow labor market

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of labor migration in Moscow, including all types of spatial mobility that are significant for the capital’s labor market. The research focuses on both international and internal migrants, including commuting labor migrants. The information base includes microdata from the Labor Force Survey by Rosstat, statistics of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation, and the results of the survey of international migrants working in Moscow. Assessment of the scale and dynamics of labor migration is made, a comparative characteristic of the socio-demographic and economic peculiarities of Muscovites and various groups of migrants is given, professional and sectoral niches of migrant labor are identified, the impact of migration on the labor market of Moscow is assessed. Temporary labor migrants represent a significant part of the Moscow labor market: they account for at least a quarter of all workers in the capital. It is shown that labor migrants compensate for the decreasing groups of Muscovites — young people and the population with a low level of education. For the first time, calculations of selectivity indices are performed on Russian data. The analysis shows that migrants are concentrated in a limited industrial and professional segment, which indicates the formation of migrant employment niches. It is proved that migrants fill the gap in the demand for low-skilled labor and its supply from the highly educated Moscow labor force. As a result, the shortage of labor is decreasing, especially in the sectors that are not attractive to Muscovites. From the perspective of places of employment (industry and profession), migrants and Muscovites are not competitors but complement each other.

Barriers and facilitators for healthcare access among immigrants in Japan: a mixed methods systematic review and meta-synthesis.

While Japan provides universal healthcare, immigrants may experience hampered access to healthcare. A comprehensive review of immigrant healthcare access is also lacking. This systematic review aims to examine barriers and facilitators of healthcare access among immigrants in Japan. We searched for literature published in English and Japanese until January 9, 2024. Studies were included if they assessed factors influencing any stage of immigrants' healthcare access, such as perceiving needs, seeking, reaching, utilizing healthcare and the consequences of healthcare, as defined by the Levesque framework. We performed a thematic analysis to further identify categories (PROSPERO: CRD42023418554). After screening 2791 articles, we identified 67 studies (40 quantitative, 23 qualitative, 4 mixed methods) meeting eligibility criteria. Limited healthcare information led immigrants to seek alternative information sources and affected immigrants' perceived healthcare needs. Longer duration of stay improved access to healthcare information. Cultural and healthcare system differences affected healthcare seeking. Reaching and utilizing healthcare were hindered by heavy workloads, undocumented status, financial hardship, and limited insurance but were facilitated by support from family and friends. The healthcare system was often insufficient to support immigrants' language and cultural needs leading to dissatisfaction and poor compliance. Findings highlight the critical importance of a multidimensional approach to support immigrants in Japan, ranging from improving healthcare information access to creating immigrant-friendly health systems. More research is needed on the healthcare access among vulnerable immigrants, such as undocumented and low-skilled labor immigrants and children. No specific funding source supported this study.

Czech Labour Market: Long-Standing Problems and New Challenges

The article presents an analysis of the development of the Czech labour market, taking into account demographic trends. The main long-term trends of decreasing unemployment, structural changes and maintaining their attraction for foreign actors are outlined. The negative consequences of the last two years have been assessed. A lack of certain specialists and high-qualified workers remains among the key problems of the Czech labour market which the government regulatory measures are aimed at. Changes in the financing of employment policy and transition to more effective support measures are shown. Special attention is paid to solving the ageing problem and to involving of older people on the labour market. The implemented methods of maintaining employment among this category of citizens are analysed. Operating instruments of attracting highly qualified and qualified workers in the Czech Republic, the base of which are the key programs, are considered. A selectivity of such measures, its flexibility and changing due to political reasons are shown. The role of labour migrants on the Czech labour market is shown using the example of Ukrainians. The Ukrainian labour force traditionally was engaged in lowskilled labour, mainly in construction and industry. The consequences of the influx of refugees because of the Ukrainian crisis, their current situation and consequences for the Czech labour market are analysed. Due to gender and age differences between refugees and typical labour mi grants from Ukraine there is no significant increase in the influence of Ukrainians on the Czech market. Problems of poverty, integration and employment corresponding to qualification remain. The key perspective of changes of the Czech labour market, including problems of shortage of certain categories of specialists, are designated.

Digital Transformation of Enterprises and Labor Force Structure Upgrading: Research Progress and Prospect

The transformation of the enterprise digital economy has had a profound effect on the employment of the labor force. Although extant document has discussed the digital economy, there is still a large space for deep analysis and theoretical framework construction of the impact of the digital Economy in Workforce Transformation. This research will look at the intrinsic impact of the digital economy on labor transfer or distribution. Digital capital complements a highly skilled labor force and promotes the upgrading of enterprise labor skill structure; digital transformation mainly affects three aspects: adopting new digital technology, optimizing labor organization form and adjusting business model. Changes of labor force in all respects as a result of the digitalization of business. In the background of the popularization of digital technology, the demand for low-skilled labor rises in the market, which promotes the upgrade of a commodity economy and the pursuit of a higher level of life; Digital transformation promotes the upgrading of enterprise labor skill structure, and different development regions and sizes have distinct differences in labor substitution. The effects of the digital transition can positively affect the innovation of the business model. Based on digitalization, The labor market's iterative renewal will have a decisive impact on the improvement of technology levels and the changing labor force structures.

The relationship between artificial intelligence and low-skilled employment in South Africa

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, its impact on employment is a topic of concern. In South Africa, where low-skilled labor forms a significant portion of the workforce, the integration of AI technologies raises questions about the future of employment opportunities and economic stability. This manuscript explores the relationship between AI adoption, low-skilled employment dynamics, and its implications using key economic indicators such as inflation, interest rates, and foreign direct investment (FDI). Employing the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach from 2012Q1 to 2021Q4, the study's findings reveal a significant negative correlation between artificial intelligence and low-skilled employment in the long run. Granger causality tests reveal directional relationships, with AI investment unidirectionally causing low-skilled employment. As a policy implication, this study recommends implementing training programs to equip workers with the necessary skills to adapt to the evolving job market influenced by technological advancements. Additionally, it suggests monitoring the implementation of AI technologies and establishing policies to mitigate labor market disruptions.

How Do Immigration Policies Affect Voter Support for Low-Skilled Immigrants? Evidence from a Survey Experiment

Countries depend on both high- and low-skilled immigration to meet economic needs. But most voters prefer high-skilled immigrants, despite the fact that multiple economic sectors structurally depend on low-skilled immigrants. In this paper, we examine voter preferences toward low-skilled immigrants as one barrier to effective immigration policy, even in political regimes where immigration is the consequence of highly coordinated or “planned” policies. Specifically, we consider whether government communication around the benefits of low-skilled immigration can increase favorability of such policies. We are particularly interested in the ways in which government communicates immigration messages and whether the scope or concentration of the proposed benefits will move individual preferences. In an online survey experiment, we present Canadians ( N=2,023) with a policy brief that manipulates immigrant skill level (high vs. low), economic outcomes of migration (positive vs. mixed), and the geographic scope of benefits (concentrated vs. sociotropic). Employing two measures of policy support, we find some evidence that positive framing can increase overall support for low-skill migrants. We also find that manipulating framing around high-skilled workers has little effect on support for low-skill workers, even when that framing presents countervailing evidence as to the benefit of high-skilled labor. In sum, our findings suggest that elite level communication around the benefits of low-skill labor may have the ability to disrupt longstanding antipathy for low-skilled labor, even in regimes with longstanding support for high-skilled labor.

Covid-19 pandemic and its economic and psychological impacts on Saudi workers: An empirical study in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial economic and psychological impact on workers in Saudi Arabia. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on the financial and mental well-being of Saudi employees in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Purpose: The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in significant economic and societal ramifications. Current study indicates that the pandemic has not only precipitated an economic crisis but has also given rise to several psychological and emotional crises. This article provides a conceptual examination of how the pandemic impacts the economic and mental health conditions of Saudi workers, based on contemporary Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) models. Method: The current study employed a qualitative methodology and utilized a sample survey strategy. The data was gathered from Saudi workers residing in major cities of Saudi Arabia. The samples were obtained from professionals such as managers, doctors, and engineers, as well as non-professionals like unskilled and low-skilled laborers, who are employed in various public and private sectors. A range of statistical tools, including Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson’s Correlation, Factor analysis, Reliability test, Chi-square test, and regression approach, were employed to analyze and interpret the results. Result: According to the data, the pandemic has caused a wide range of economic problems, including high unemployment and underemployment rates, income instability, and different degrees of pressure on workers to find work. Feelings of insecurity (about food and environmental safety), worry, dread, stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns have been generated by these challenges. The rate of mental health decline differs among demographics. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has universally affected all aspects of our lives worldwide. It resulted in an extended shutdown of educational institutions, factories, offices, and businesses. Without a question, it has profoundly transformed the work environment, professions, and lifestyles of billions of individuals worldwide. There is a high occurrence of poor psychological well-being among Saudi workers. However, it has been demonstrated that both economic health and mental health interventions can effectively alleviate the mental health burden in this population.

The Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence in the Forklift Industry—An Analysis for the Case of Romania

This paper investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the forklift industry, focusing on logistics and procurement within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Romania. Using a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with seven managers from a benchmarked company in the forklift industry (BCFI) and quantitative analysis of operational data, we examine the transformative effects of AI integration. Key findings include a 30% reduction in inventory holding costs due to AI-powered predictive analytics; a 15% decrease in procurement costs through AI-driven supplier evaluation systems; a 25% increase in operational efficiency from AI-optimized route planning; a 40% boost in overall productivity attributed to AI-enabled automation; and a projected 20% reduction in low-skilled labor requirements over the next five years. The study employs environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), balanced scorecard (BSC), benchmarking, and activity-based management (ABM) models to analyze risks and implications of AI integration. A case study of a leading Romanian SME in the forklift industry is presented, examining financial strategies using McKinsey’s 7S framework. The paper concludes that while AI offers significant operational benefits, it also presents challenges in workforce transition and ethical considerations that require careful management.

A FIELD STUDY ON SOCIAL CAPITAL, CULTURE OF LIVING TOGETHER AND NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS

Turkey, which is the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa, has been the main route of migration throughout human history. Forced migrants coming to Turkey have low-skilled labor and mostly consist of farmers engaged in agriculture in rural areas. Turkey settles migrants migrating from nearby geography in districts where agricultural production is carried out in rural areas and can employ these migrants in agricultural production. When the host community trusts the migrants, they can treat them warmly, neighborly relations begin and a culture of living together that is beneficial for both parties is formed. This study aimed to investigate on-site the contribution of social capital to the neighborhood relations and the culture of living together process established by Meskhetian Turks settled in Üzümlü District of Erzincan Province since 2016 with the residents of Üzümlü District. In line with this objective, a survey was conducted with 269 Meskhetian Turks migrating from the Russian Federation. In the analyses conducted with Structural Equation Modeling, it was determined that Meskhetian Turks developed very good neighborhood relations with the people of Üzümlü District of Erzincan Province and created a culture of living together. While the Bonding Social Capital contributed positively to this process, the Bridging Social Capital had a negative effect. The study approaches the issue of migration within the scope of “microeconomic migration theories”. The economic needs and desires of individuals are taken as basis.

The Impact of Minimum Wage System on Low-Income Groups

The minimum wage system sets a legal floor on the income of workers. It provides economic security for low-wage workers and ensures that their basic needs are met, thereby reducing poverty. For low-income workers, increasing the minimum wage directly enhances their earnings, living standards, and financial stability. As a research focus, the primary area of examination would be the precise effect of minimum wage adjustments on the income levels of those in low-paying jobs: analyze the changes in the real income of low-income workers after the augement of minimum salary and the improvement influence of family economic conditions. Second one is exploring the impact on this system changes employment sector: Examine whether raising the minimum wage causes employers that reduce hiring or layoffs, and the potential impact of such changes on low-skilled labor markets. The last one is analyzing the impacts of minimum wage policies of psychological and low-income groups’ social wellbeing: Using questionnaires to understand changes in the perception of low-income workers about their job satisfaction, quality of life, and social status. The rise in this system significantly rose the income level of low-income workers, helped to alleviate poverty, and raised the basic standard of living of these families. In the short term, that increase may have a certain negative impact on some labor-intensive industries, in the form of a small number of job losses; But over the longer term, the job market stabilizes as companies adapt to increased costs and improve efficiency through technological innovation.

Market Access, Population Mobility and Labor Force Structure: Evidence From China’s High-Speed Railway

Population mobility is becoming a common phenomenon worldwide which can contribute to the development of individuals and societies. This paper offers that the launch of HSR would facilitate population mobility and spatial disparity. We also find that the HSR connection mainly affects migration of people under 14 and 15 to 64 years old, with no effect on the old over 65. This implies that labor-led family migration has become the main form of movement under the effect of HSR. Furthermore, HSR connection has promoted the concentration of high-skilled labor and the outflow of low-skilled labor in large cities. This study offers useful insights for policy makers that concerns transport infrastructure and the issue of household and workforce structure it raises. JEL: O30, O18, D60, L31.

Does the Inter-Provincial Floating Population Affect Regional Economic Development in China? An Empirical Analysis

In recent decades, significant changes in the urban–rural structure of population mobility have profoundly impacted provincial development, urbanization, and population redistribution in China. Based on China’s fifth, sixth, and seventh national population census datasets, this study explores the effects of the inter-provincial floating population on regional economic development through statistical and empirical analysis, identifying both the scale and structural impacts of the floating population on regional economic development. The results found that while the scale of China’s floating population has been continuously increasing, the spatial distribution pattern remains relatively unchanged, and the pattern is summed up as low in the middle and high on both sides. The floating population exerts both scale and structural effects on the economic development of both inflow and outflow regions, altering regional populations and production efficiency, and thereby influencing regional economic outcomes. Specifically, this study finds that the inflow population has no significant differential impact on high- and low-density regions. In contrast, the outflow population exhibits a significant differential impact, with the negative impact of the outflow population on low-density regions being more substantial than that on high-density regions. Inter-provincial migration supports achieving sustainable development goals (SDG-8 and 11) by shaping regional economic development. To address these dynamics, the high-density regions of China should transform and upgrade the industrial and population structure by promoting the trend of population return to low-density regions. This can be achieved by transferring low-end industries and low-skilled labor, thereby alleviating the pressure of overcrowding. Meanwhile, low-density regions should seize the opportunities for population return and industrial transfer, implement talent introduction, and accurately undertake industrial transfer. This approach can foster the in-depth development of new urbanization and rural revitalization initiatives, promoting balanced regional growth and sustainability.

Platformed identities of female migrant domestic Ayi's in the Chinese gig-economy

Focusing on the Chinese context, this investigation addresses how digital labor platforms as specific instances of social media, mediate interactions between workers and clients. This article addresses the evolving landscape of domestic labor in contemporary China, specifically focusing on female internal migrant workers - commonly referred to as “Ayi’s” — in the gig economy. More specifically, by employing a feminist intersectional lens, we analyze the platformization of migrant Ayi’s identities on digital labor platforms and Chinese super-apps like WeChat and Swan Daojia. We also address how these rural-to-urban migrants may use these platforms to create new narratives for themselves. Based on in-depth interviews with 15 female migrant workers alongside a walkthrough study of three digital labor platforms, Ayi’s are found to represent themselves by branding themselves. This form of self-marketing offers the potential to transform their visibility in public from perceived low-skilled laborers to “pre-packaged” professionals. While enhancing visibility, and thereby improving the standing of some, the representational practices of Ayi’s also offer insights into newly emergent forms of vulnerability and marginalization, shaped by gender, migrant status, and socioeconomic class.

Can the IRA and CHIPS Act Reduce Labor Earnings Inequality? Lessons from the US Shale Boom

We study how the US shale boom decreased labor earnings inequality by increasing demand for low-skill labor in small labor markets. The similarities in the concentrated geographic distribution of investments and the labor needed to build capacity between the US shale boom and the manufacturing construction influx that has followed the passage of the IRA and CHIPS and Science Acts raise the possibility that these bills could also impact labor earnings inequality in a similar way.

Impact of Fintech on labor allocation efficiency in firms: Empirical evidence from China

Fintech has significantly influenced the traditional financial industry by introducing advanced technologies and innovative business models that have resulted in profound impacts. This study examines the effects of Fintech development on labor allocation efficiency and explores its underlying mechanisms. Using a set of Chinese A-share public firms from 2011 to 2020, we find that Fintech development plays a positive role in labor allocation efficiency, mainly by mitigating labor overinvestment. This positive effect is further reinforced by market competition. We also find that the primary pathways of this enhancement include lowering information asymmetry, mitigating agency issues, and substituting low-skilled labor. Moreover, we show that the dimensions of depth and digital integration are particularly important in improving labor allocation efficiency.

Industrial automation and product quality: the role of robotic production transformation

ABSTRACT We investigate the impact of industrial automation, specifically robots, on product quality in international trade. By analysing detailed data from Chinese listed firms, we examine how the adoption of robots is associated with higher product quality compared to that of nonrobot users. This effect is more pronounced among heterogeneous products and in ordinary trade patterns. We identify several mechanisms through which robots contribute to product quality improvements, including resource reallocation, adaptability to complex production processes, and enhancement of input quality. Moreover, we demonstrate that replacing low-skilled labour with complex robots and employing high-skilled labour to collaborate with robots improved product quality, confirming that robotic displacement and reinstatement effects generate better product quality upgrading. Overall, our empirical evidence supports the positive influence of robot adoption on product quality and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying robotic production transformation.

Do talent housing policies foster regional innovation? An analysis based on labor force heterogeneity

Human capital plays a crucial role in regional innovation and economic progress, which has increasingly been highlighted in research. However, rising housing costs in cities can push talent away, causing brain drain and hindering local innovation. Within this context, China has seen widespread adoption of talent housing policies (THPs) aimed at providing housing assistance for the high-skilled labor force, although the ramifications of these initiatives remain largely underexplored. Based on labor force heterogeneity, this study investigates the effects of THPs targeted at high-skilled labor on the mobility of both high- and low-skilled workers and their consequent impact on regional innovation. Our findings reveal that while THPs bolster the local pool of highly skilled human capital and attract more low-skilled workforce, enhancing regional innovation through labor–skill complementarities, they concurrently elevate housing costs for low-skilled laborers, reducing their long-term settlement intensions and potentially hindering a city's innovation trajectory.

A spatial perspective on the impact of digital financial inclusion on the employment structure of the labour force: Evidence from Chinese cities

AbstractIn the context of big data, the rise of digital inclusive finance is driving the digital transformation of various industries, which in turn, has a profound impact on labour employment. Based on the panel data of 258 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2021, this article evaluates the impact of digital financial inclusion on the employment structure of the labour force and investigates its spatial spillover effects by constructing a spatial Durbin model and a mediation model. The study finds that: (1) Digital financial inclusion increases the employment demand for high-skilled and low-skilled labour and decreases the employment demand for middle-skilled labour, that is, the employment structure of the labour force shows a polarisation trend. (2) There is a positive spatial spillover effect of the impact of the development of digital financial inclusion on the demand for high- and low-skilled labour. (3) Financial digitisation plays an intermediary role in the process of digital financial inclusion affecting the employment structure of the labour force. Taking advantage of the dividends brought about by the development of digital inclusive finance and formulating policies according to the actual situation of each region indicate an undeniable choice for achieving full employment.

What happens when the tasks dry up? Exploring the impact of medical technology on workforce planning

Increasing evidence suggests that new technologies tend to substitute for low skilled labour and complement highly skilled labour. This paper considers the manner in which new technology impacts on two distinct groups of highly skilled health care labour, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. We consider the diffusion impact of PCI as it replaces CABG in the treatment of cardiovascular disease in the English NHS, and explicitly estimate the degree to which the cardiac surgical workforce reacts to this newer technology. Using administrative data we trace the complementarity between CABG and PCI during the mature phase of technology adoption, mapped against an increasing employment of cardiologists as they replace cardiothoracic surgeons. Our findings show evidence of growing employment of cardiologists, as PCI is increasingly expanded to older and sicker patients. While in cardiothoracic surgery, surgeons compensate falling CABG rates in a manner consistent with undertaking replacement activity and redeployment. While for cardiologists this reflects the general findings in the literature, that new technology enhances rather than substitutes for skilled labour, for the surgeons the new technology leads to redeployment rather than a downsizing of their labour.