Occupational Sectors Research Articles

Analysis of wage distribution in Malaysia

Labor force demand in Malaysia has grown significantly over the decades since the independence era. Changes in economic structure have led to changes in labor force utilization. There are hundreds of studies had been done to investigate the determinants of wages, including human capital factor, demographic factor as well as job characteristic. The objective of this paper is to examine the determinant of wages in Malaysia using the Salaries and Wages Survey, 2016 conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Based on the analysis of mean differences, the average wage is significantly different for all variables, including age, ethnicity, marital status, education level and occupation. Even in the analysis of the distribution for men and women, the difference in average wage is also identified for each occupation category and sector of the industry.

Longitudinal analysis of activity generation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

This paper presents a longitudinal analysis of activity generation behaviour in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) between 1996 and 2016 for various activity types: work, school, shopping, other. The analyses are conducted using the data from the five most recent Transportation Tomorrow Surveys. For work and school purposes, the population is divided into sub-categories considering occupational sectors and educational levels respectively. Further subdivision is made by treating first work/school activity of the day and subsequent work/school activities as distinct activity types. Considerable stability over time in the majority of the model parameters is found in all cases, indicating that both work/school and non-work/school activity episode generation in the GTHA has been very stable over the 20-year period analyzed. Year-specific models and joint models, within which the data are pooled across the years, return very similar results implying that robust joint models that exploit the full time-series of survey data available can be constructed. While first-trips to work and post-secondary schools in the day can be parametrically modelled with reasonable fits, second/subsequent work/school activities and non-work/school activities display considerable randomness in occurrence. Elementary and secondary school trips generally need only be modelled using average trip rates across the student population: parametric, utility-based models provide very little additional explanatory power. In addition, investigation of survey design biases shows that there is no significant survey design effect on activity/trip generation for the first work/school-related activities, however, the models reveal significant biases when the subsequent work/school-related activities and non-work/school activities are analyzed.

Risk for Depressive Symptoms and Suicide Among U.S. Primary Farmers and Family Members: A Systematic Literature Review

Background: About 84% of the agriculture, fishing, and forestry occupational sector is comprised of farmers. This sector is at high risk for suicide in the United States. Recent disasters and trade upheavals may make farmers and their families more vulnerable to depression and suicide. This review focused on the risk for depression and suicide among United States' primary farm operators and their families. Methods: A systematic search of the literature published between January 2000 and June 2019, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was conducted. Results: A total of 30 articles met full inclusion criteria. Seventeen reports emanated from the midwest. Twenty studies used a cross-sectional design, primarily assessing a convenience sample or random stratified sample from a limited geographic area. We discovered only one intervention evaluation study. Depressive symptoms were assessed as part of the studies, but it was not the major focus. A variety of instruments measured depressive symptoms, with the Centers for Disease Control Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale used more frequently than other scales. Thirteen studies focused on the relationship between pesticide/chemical exposure and depression or suicide risk. Increased stress, poor physical health, compromised financial position, and previous injury were among the leading indicators of depression. Conclusion/Application to Practice: The limited number of studies that was discovered identified the need for more robust science where the risk for depression and suicide is the primary focus of the study and for intervention studies grounded in science. Occupational health providers should be vigilant about farm exposure and be aware of factors that may influence depressive symptoms of workers who operate farm establishments.

Epidemiology of burnout syndrome in four occupational sectors in Cameroon-impact of the practice of physical activities and sport.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Burnout syndrome (BOS), risk factors and the effect of physical activity in six professions in Cameroon.Methods2012 participants completed questionnaires related to socio-demographic conditions and work perception. Appropriate Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) psychometers were used for specific professions. Level of physical activity and sports practice was determined using the Ricci and Gagnon scale.ResultsThe overall prevalence of burnout was 67.9%; with 5.3% high; 34.3% moderate; and 60.4% low degree. 42.2% of victims of BOS were in high loss of personal achievement, 39.9% in high depersonalization of and 38.2% in high emotional exhaustion. Higher prevalence of BOS was found in Army (85.3%) and educational sectors (78.5% in secondary school teachers (SET) and 68% in university teaching staff (UTS)). BOS was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with distance from home to workplace, number of children per participant, number of hospitals attended, number of guards per month, labour hours per day, conflicts with the hierarchy, conflicts with colleagues, poor working conditions, unsatisfactory salary, part time teaching in private university institutions, job seniority, sedentariness. Apart from UTS, no association was observed between the level of physical activity and occurrence of BOS.ConclusionBurnout is a reality in occupational environments in Cameroon.

Did a Successful Fight Against the Covid-19 Pandemic Come at a Cost? Impacts of the Outbreak on Employment Outcomes in Vietnam

Vietnam is widely praised for its successful fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has had an extremely low mortality rate of 35 deaths to date (out of a population of approximately 100 million) and currently has no community transmission. We offer the first study that examines the effects of the COVID-19-induced lockdown on various employment outcomes for Vietnam. We employ difference-in-differences econometric models to estimate the causal effects of the lockdown, using rich individual-level data from the quarterly Labor Force Surveys. We find that the lockdown increases the unemployment rate, the temporary layoff rate, and decreases the quality of employment. It also reduces workers' numbers of working hours and their monthly incomes and wages. Our estimation results remain robust to different model specifications and estimation samples. Further heterogeneity analysis suggests that the effects vary across education levels and occupation sectors but are similar across regions or provinces with different lockdown durations.

DUTIES, POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXPERT ENGINEER OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS IN JUDICIAL DECISIONS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

This work has as its central theme: “The contribution of the expert in the labor court decisions”, where it begins to point out that in the work related issues, such as dangerousness and unhealthiness, the expert examinations will be performed by a single expert. For its work consists of a set of technical-scientific procedures designed to bring to the decision-making body the necessary evidence to support the just settlement of the dispute or the finding of a fact. In response to the problem of this study consisting of the following question: What is the contribution of the expert in labor court decisions with a construction company? This study highlights the role of expertise rests in the search for truthfulness linked to the facts that require appreciation of the Occupational Safety sector, which is one of the fundamentals that should be prioritized in the work. In this regard, this study also highlights that the expertise in the Civil Construction industries must be technologically rigorous and closely correlated with the expert records, translating into formal truth, which will assist in the magistrate's conviction regarding the objects in dispute. In this line of reasoning it is understood that expertise can be considered as a product under development, as it is in constant transformation.

The Gender Wage Gap in Myanmar: Adding Insult to Injury?

Gender wage inequality has been studied for decades, applying highly standardized regression decomposition techniques. It is common to find that education and experience explain small parts of the wage gap while differences in occupation and sector are important. Using three different surveys, all from 2017, we analyse the gender wage gap for urban workers in Myanmar. We start from a standard Mincer-type wage equation in which we condition on the workers level of education and years of experience. Subsequently we control for differences in occupational choice and sector of employment. Finally, we compare wages for men and women with similar characteristics, working in the exact same manufacturing enterprises. Our results show that the urban labour markets in Myanmar stand out as remarkable. In Myanmar, selection into wage work leads to an urban workforce in which the female wage-workers have higher levels of education than their male counterparts. Thus, female workers should, on average, have higher wages than male workers. Even so, the observed gender wage gap is 14-35 percent, depending on the survey analysed. Differences in educational attainment and selection into occupations and sectors cannot account for this wage gap. Instead, it is associated with a lower base wage for women and lower remuneration of women’s experience. Digging deeper, we go beyond the traditional standardized methods and utilize a matched employer-employee dataset to generate one-to-one comparisons of female and male production workers with the same level of education and experience who are employed in the same manufacturing enterprises. Even in this setting, in which the male and female workers are closely matched, we find an average wage gap of 13 percent. Our analysis thus indicates substantial discrimination against women in Myanmar’s urban labour markets, with the situation being worst for uneducated women in low wage jobs.

Ethnic background and risk perception in construction workers: development and validation of an exploratory tool.

Among occupational sectors, construction is still one of the branches with the highest reported numbers of work-related injuries and diseases, which can even lead to death and in many cases induce permanent health consequences. The vast majority of these occupational injuries and diseases are preventable; accordingly, an improvement in preventive strategies, also through a better knowledge of the main factors involved in these events, is one of the most important objectives for better occupational health and safety in the construction sector. Considering the individual factors associated with a higher risk of work-related adverse health effects in workers, an inadequate perception of occupational risks is among the most relevant issues. Risk perception can vary according to different cultural backgrounds, highly influenced by ethnicity, and it affects the relations between workers in the work environment, and the way by with they undergo the specific occupational tasks and manage risky situations frequently occurring on construction sites. Accordingly, the aim of the authors was to develop a new tool for the assessment of risk perception in construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. A team of health and safety experts involved in the training of construction workers from various ethnic backgrounds and in different regions of Italy developed and validated a questionnaire-based tool for the evaluation of their risk perception. Furthermore, through a factor analysis, a reference model defining various dimensions of occupational risk perception, relevant for the different ethnicities, was identified. The final tool included 12 items aimed to assess the associations between the ethnic background and occupational risk perception of construction workers. The authors identified 4 relevant dimensions: behavioral control, work conditions, safety climate and personal attitude. The proposed tool should be considered to explore the appropriate ways for the development of effective preventive strategies for construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds in Italy. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(2):163-72.

Indigenous Urbanization in Russia's Arctic

This article presents the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to the ongoing urbanization of the Nenets indigenous communities (“communities-in-transition”) in the Nenets Autonomous Region. Focusing on the preconditions for “indigenous flight” from traditional rural settlements to urban areas, the article analyzes key indicators—demographics, language proficiency, education level, and occupational sector, as well as social cohesion, interethnic relations, and political inclusion in the larger urban context—to describe the adaptation and integration processes of these new city dwellers. Based on the fieldwork in the region, the article also presents individual life strategies and career choices of indigenous youth and describes the role of gender in indigenous urbanization.

Ocular chemical burns in the workplace: Epidemiological characteristics.

Epidemiological studies focusing on occupational pathologies can be an important medium through which to bring about change with respect to workplace accidents, both in terms of prevention planning and management as well as the appropriate care following an accident. Ocular chemical burns benefit from urgent attention as, if not treated early and appropriately, the tissue of the eye and its functionality can be seriously compromised. The objective of this study was to collate epidemiological data on workplace ocular chemical burns which could in turn serve to identify key action points in terms of occupational health. Cohort study with 604 cases of chemical burns to the eye occurring in the workplace between 2014 and 2015. Criteria inclusion were diagnosis of chemical burn, patient seen at the medical centre of the mutual society, workplace acquired ophthalmic pathology leading to the issuing of a sickness certificate. No exclusion criteria were defined. Ocular chemical burns were the second most common workplace eye injury (12.68%) behind foreign bodies in the eye (43.42%). Men accounted for 68.54% of cases of ocular chemical burns. In around 75% of cases, sickness certification was for less than 7 days, although 6 patients suffered permanent disability. The occupational sector which was most affected particularly the industry service industry. The economic costs with these workplace injuries were extracted. Appropriate early medical assistance is essential. The production and distribution of clinical guides for health care workers could optimise first line assistance and mitigate possible training deficiencies.

Transcultural validation of the perceived person-environment fit scale in a French context

L’objectif de cette étude était de tester la validité du modèle et de la mesure multidimensionnelle de l’adéquation de la personne à son environnement de travail élaborée par Chuang et al. (2016). Notre objectif était de tester cette validité dans un contexte français. Cette approche multidimensionnelle distingue quatre types d’adéquation : l’adéquation personne-activité, l’adéquation personne-groupe (de travail), l’adéquation personne-organisation (de travail) et l’adéquation personne-supérieur. Les études analysant simultanément les effets respectifs de ces quatre types d’adéquation sont rares et se basent généralement sur différentes mesures ne bénéficiant pas des mêmes procédures de validation. À notre connaissance, seule, la récente échelle d’adéquation de la personne à son environnement de travail (PPEFS, Perceived Person-Environment Fit Scale) élaborée par Chuang et al. (2016) présente l’intérêt d’évaluer conjointement ces quatre dimensions de l’adéquation. Cependant, celle-ci a seulement été utilisée sur des populations non-européennes. De ce fait, la validité transculturelle du PPEFS n’a pas été testée. Dans cette étude, nous avons donc appliqué les méthodes de validation transculturelle d’instrument de mesure afin de valider une échelle française du PPEFS. Au final, 571 employés français de différents secteurs d’activité ont répondu à un questionnaire comprenant les items traduit du PPEFS, le burn-out, la satisfaction au travail et les intentions de quitter son emploi. Les analyses factorielles confirmatoires reflètent la structure multifactorielle et super-ordonnée du modèle initial. Par ailleurs, chaque dimension de l’adéquation de la personne à son environnement de travail est associée à au moins une variable de santé au travail (satisfaction, burn-out ou intention de quitter son emploi). Ceci permet de confirmer la validité externe de chacune des dimensions.

‘One improves here every day’: the occupational and learning journeys of ‘lower-skilled’ European migrants in the London region

ABSTRACT This paper examines narratives of learning and occupational advancement amongst migrants employed in ‘low-skilled’ jobs, based on in-depth interviews with secondary-educated East and South Europeans living in the London region. Our findings indicate that many achieved varying degrees of professional gratification, progress, and skills development within occupational sectors typically associated with unattractive conditions, limited benefits or opportunities to get ahead. Participants’ narratives of achievement expand the relatively limited literature that challenges common perceptions of occupational mobility and professional development as the terrain of the ‘highly skilled’. Furthermore, we examine how migrants made sense of their career opportunities and success. We discuss two discourses, centred on ‘hard work’ and ‘creativity’ respectively, through which participants challenged and reconfigured traditional ‘high’-‘low-skilled’ divides. Our findings contribute to critiques of traditional understandings of migrant human capital and simplistic ‘high’-‘low-skilled’ distinctions in two ways: by documenting the less visible experiences of learning and career progress amongst secondary-educated European youth who enter ‘low-skilled’ employment abroad, and by calling attention to subjective understandings of occupational mobility and the new ‘symbolic boundaries’ around skills, broadly construed, that migrants redrew in their reflections on career progress.

From prevention focus to adaptivity and creativity: the role of unfulfilled goals and work engagement

ABSTRACTWhereas promotion focus is consistently linked to high adaptivity (i.e., adjustment to changes) and creativity (i.e., generation of useful and original ideas), prevention focus is commonly associated with low adaptivity and creativity. The present study uncovers the conditions under which prevention focus may also have positive effects on adaptivity and creativity. First, we hypothesize that trait-level promotion focus positively relates to day-level adaptivity as well as creativity. More importantly, we hypothesize that trait-level prevention focus positively relates to day-level adaptivity and creativity when day-level goal fulfilment is low (i.e., two-way interactions) and that these effects are stronger when day-level work engagement is high (i.e., three-way interactions). To test our hypotheses, we conducted a daily diary survey among 209 employees from different occupational sectors, over five working days. As expected, trait promotion focus was positively related to adaptivity and creativity. Furthermore, trait prevention focus positively related to both adaptivity and creativity when day-level goal fulfilment was low andday-level work engagement was high (3-way interactions). None of the two-way interaction effects of trait prevention focus and goal fulfilment was significant. Our findings suggest that prevention focus and unfulfilled goals jointly should not only be seen as threats, but also as opportunities for adaptation and creativity.

WHAT ARE THE PATHWAYS TO RETIREMENT: DO HEALTH AND COHORT MATTER?

Studies about retirement often neglect ethnic identity. Yet, racial and ethnic inequality plays an important role in retirement decisions. For instance, minorities are less likely to continue working in old age beyond the normal retirement age because of some individual factors such as poor or fair health, cognitive impairment, functional limitation (Green, 2005; Ghilarducci & Moore, 2015; Mudrazija, 2010), physical limitations (Radl, 2014; Solem et al., 2016; Pienta & Hayward, 2002), retirement benefit and eligibility of pension (Radl, 2014; Honig, 1996). This research examined the influence of ethnicity on whether working for people aged above 60 in Taiwan. In addition to testing the pathways to retirement, we scrutinized how occupational sector mediates the likelihood of ethnic effect on retirement. After comparing two cohorts from the dataset “Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging”, we found that working in public sector, white-collar workers, being a Mainlander, being non-married, higher education, self-reported bad health and functional limitation are all associated with the higher likelihood of retirement. Finding suggested that the incentive structure of the public pension for public sector workers, who are mostly Mainlanders, could contribute to the higher likelihood of retirement. However, the magnitude of mediator is much larger for the older cohort than the younger cohort. The study not only could benefit cumulative advantage approach by analyzing East Asia data but also bring policy implication, that retirement policy makers should reduce public pension incentive for public sector workers to delay the retirement age.

Predicting E-Government Use in Mauritius: Non-Parametric Procedures

This study changes the way in which research has so far been conducted on assessing the extent to which the UTAUT model predicts the use of e-government. It also contributes to the theoretical framework by adding up a trust component to forecast behavioural intention. This study adds other factors to the theoretical model such as frequency of use, sector of occupation, education and urbanisation. Instead of merely summing up Likert-type items, this research identifies those individual factors behind all UTAUT components and Trust dimension that predict the use of the Mauritian government website both in the short and long run under the non-parametric approach. Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, Bonferroni correction and Jonckheere-Terpstra testsare used throughout the analysis. Data were randomly collected through questionnaires across 221 citizens who use the government website in Mauritius. Factors such as adequate knowledge, self-confidence, convenience of use, support at work, influential people, opinions of valued people, recommendations by important people to use the e-portal, improved job performance, ability to complete task online, having useful and required information online, ease of finding information, trust in government departments and website, online security and non-disclosure of personal details to third party affect a citizen’s intention to continue to use e-government portal in the future. In addition to these factors, having a computer or laptop, and cheap internet subscription affect short term behavioural intention but not long term behavioural intention. The reverse applies for updated information, easy to understand and use, maintain confidentiality, the enactment of laws against cybercrimes and seen as competent by colleagues. Results are significant at 0.1%, 1% and 5% level. Frequency of use and sector of occupation play key roles in influencing a citizen’s desire to use government websites across all UTAUT and Trust components. Urbanisation however does not affect e-government use at all. This study enables policymakers and government website administrators to tackle those aspects that may favourably mould citizens’ perceptions towards the government website. It will thus enhance e-government practice in Mauritius.

Homogeneity &amp; Analysis of Variance: Substantiation among Women Professional Purchase decision of Facial Cream Brands

One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tool established the difference among various groups mean. The study discusses the relationship between demographic variables (Age, Profession, Income, Experience &amp;Occupational sector) and Purchase Decisions of Women Professionals using facial creams. The study categorized women professionals as Advocates, Doctors, Academicians, Engineering &amp;Technocracts, and Administrators &amp;Others. A questionnaire was designed with seven variables like External Stimuli, Internal Stimuli, Brand Awareness, Source credibility, Purchase Intention, Purchase decisions, Purchase experience and was circulated among the women professionals in &amp; around Chennai, a total of 734 questionnaire was composed. These articles confer about the results of the normality test and one way ANOVA using Statistical Package for Social Science SPSS 21.0. This article is framed only to measure whether there is a significant difference among the demographical variables with the only one variable of the study that is purchase decisions. To investigate the assumptions of normality Kolmogorov-Smirnov &amp; Shapiro-Wilk was calculated &amp;muliticollinerity tests were conducted. The finding of the study shows that there is a difference among the demographic variables with the purchase decisions of the facial creams among women professionals. This study shall act as a direction for the academician and marketers for better understanding purchase decisions of facial cream brands among women professionals based on the demographic variables.

Occupational risk of salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis: a nationwide population-based registry study

ObjectivesOccupational exposure to animals and foods thereof is a poorly characterised risk factor for salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis, the main causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in the Western world. We performed a...

Menentukan Faktor-Faktor Budaya Keselamatan dalam Kalangan Tenaga Pengajar Teknikal Menggunakan Pendekatan Analisis Berstruktur

Studies on safety culture have been increasing and several proposed models have been developed and evaluated to identify their key dimensions contributed to many occupational sectors. However, less of safety culture studies focused at education sector especially in Malaysia. This study aims to seek a deeper understanding of the structures of safety culture in Malaysian education sector mainly at Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET). The objective also to investigate the relationship between psychological, behaviourial and situational dimension with safety culture, and to find out what can be done by the top management to increase safety culture in education sector. Data was collected from 391 Vocational Colleges’ (VC) instructor all over Malaysia that being selected using multistage sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS 24 and SmartPLS-Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique. Partial least squares analysis revealed Influence of Peers, Safety Knowledge, Safety Communication, Safety Rules, Personnel Protective Equipment and Safety Training plays a pivotal role in inspiring the safety culture among the instructor. Assessment of Importance Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA) showed that Safety Knowledge, Safety Rule, Influence of Peers and Safety Training are very important factors in determining a safety culture due to their relatively higher importance values compared to the rest of the variables. The study will help to improve safety culture in education sector and expected to bring in more safety awareness among instructor, which will inevitably bring in a culture of safe behavior. The ultimate result will be a substantial reduction or elimination in safety-related incidents and make an education sector as a safe workplace. Only a very few have examined the safety culture factors among VCs’ instructor as one of the TVET organisastion, and the used of Smart PLS is a novel idea, with the post analysis of IPMA gives an indicator to the top management of TVET’s education and Malaysia Ministry of Education (MOE) in build safety culture in this sector. Compliance of OSHA 1994 is seen as a good measure to build an education sector as a safe workplace.

Sex work-based livelihoods in post 2000 in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACTThe paper examines the role sex work played as a livelihood opportunity for women to meet short and long term needs. Post 2000 Zimbabwe underwent a major socioeconomic crisis which culminated in world record inflation rates, widespread poverty, high unemployment, food and cash shortages. This culminated in 2008 where the country suspended its currency and adopted a multi-currency system with the American dollar gaining prominence as the mode of exchange. Sex work has a long history in colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe but post 2000 period requires a nuanced analysis of how this livelihood activity has evolved in response to the ever-changing macroeconomic context. Participant observation and unstructured interviews with female sex workers point towards their ability to actively respond to macroeconomic changes. Agency demonstrated by sex workers characterizes how they adjusted through the context of crisis and hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. The findings point to an increased inflow of income for sex workers which have translated to an improved livelihood despite poor working conditions which are reinforced by criminalization and penalization of sex work in Zimbabwe. The paper thus argues that sex work is an occupational sector with participants who make rational choices in joining sex work.

Determinants of Safety Climate in the Professional Logging Industry.

Work involving forest logging is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. In the intermountain region of Montana and Idaho in the United States, the extreme terrain, remote location and severe weather conditions escalate risk. Although safety has improved through the development of mechanized equipment, logging tasks continue to be very hazardous. Thus, as with leading companies in other occupational sectors, logging enterprises are beginning to consider safety climate as a useful measure in their safety systems. The purpose of this study was to quantify safety climate within the logging industry of Montana, USA and to identify specific determinants of safety climate. A demographic, musculoskeletal symptom (MSS), and safety climate survey (NOSACQ-50) was administered to 743 professional loggers. Analyses were conducted to determine the association between demographic characteristics, MSS, workplace variables and the scores on five safety climate dimensions (management safety priority and ability, workers' safety commitment, workers' safety priority and risk non-acceptance, peer safety communication, learning and trust in safety ability, and workers' trust in efficacy of safety systems). Variables identified as predictors of safety climate included logging system type, supervisory status, age, years of experience and reported MSS. As safety climate is a leading indicator of workplace safety, if work groups with the lowest safety climate scores can be identified, they could receive targeted safety intervention programs or resources; thereby directing resources to the groups who need it the most, without relying on lagging indicators such as injury and fatality rates.