Wage Levels Research Articles

Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Unemployment, Employment, and Participation Rates Through 2023: Education Remains Critical

Employment, unemployment, participation, and wage rates have been more favourable for the non-Indigenous population than for the Indigenous population. With one exception, this has been the case in every year since 2007, when the data first became available. While wages were higher in 2022 than they were in 2021 for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, the overall employment picture for the Indigenous population was worse in 2023 than in 2022. Their unemployment rate was higher, while their employment and participation rates were lower. In comparison, all three rates were higher for non-Indigenous people in 2023. A critical factor related to each of these three rates is the education level achieved. Higher completed educational levels are directly related to lower unemployment rates and higher employment and participation rates as well as to higher wage levels.

Salary Benchmarking for Voice-Specialized Speech-Language Pathologists

Purpose: This study aimed to understand how salaries of voice and upper airway–specialized speech-language pathologists (SLPs) differ from medical SLPs based on prevailing wage data and to give clinicians resources to better negotiate their salary and benefits. Method: A nationwide survey of voice-specialized SLPs was disseminated via various online platforms including American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Group 3, Instagram, voice-specialized Facebook groups, and e-mail. Data were collected via REDCap. The survey investigates SLPs' salary, benefits, experience, clinical responsibilities, and profit generated through Current Procedural Terminology codes. Two separate analyses were completed. First, annual salary, as reported by participants, was compared against annual salary, as estimated by prevailing wage data. Second, a multiple regression driver analysis was completed to identify significant predictors of wage level within our sample. Outliers in the sample were removed using the Difference in Fits procedure. Results: A total of 111 participant surveys were included for analysis. Our data demonstrate that, between participant data and prevailing wage data, salaries for voice and upper airway disorders (VUAD) SLPs are significantly higher in the West, Midwest, and Southern regions. There is no significant difference in the Northeast. Several factors proved statistically significant predictors of increased salaries including years of work ( p ≤ .0001), cost of living ( p = .0030), and work in multidisciplinary setting ( p = .0223). Conclusions: As practitioners navigate negotiations for equitable compensation, leveraging localized salary data and emphasizing the value of specialized expertise may prove instrumental. Moreover, advocating for employer-sponsored professional development opportunities and benefits can enhance the overall well-being and professional satisfaction of VUAD SLPs, ensuring optimal delivery of care within this specialized field.

The Minimum Wage in Greece: A Review of Institutional Features, Developments and Effects Between 1975 and 2023

Abstract This paper takes a historical perspective and assesses the evolution of the institutional features in setting the minimum wage in Greece between 1975 and 2023. It also evaluates developments regarding the minimum wage level, its bite and alignment with productivity. The paper reviews the limited available empirical literature on the association of the minimum wage with labour market outcomes (average wages, employment, inequality). It presents new estimates of the elasticity of average wages to the minimum wage. One of the paper’s key points is that the minimum wage setting mechanism has changed over time as the economic environment has changed. Reviewing the evolution of the minimum wage over time to evaluate whether the minimum wage follows productivity developments and whether the minimum wage bites leads to the second and third takeaways of the paper. The minimum wage follows productivity developments over the longer term but not always in the short term. The bite of the minimum wage is high and appears to be higher when government intervention in setting the minimum wage is stronger. As for the impact of the minimum wage on average wages, the new estimates of the elasticity of the average to the minimum wage the paper provides, use more precisely measured wage rates, which show a high elasticity of average to minimum wages. Finally, the review of the existing literature on the employment effects of the minimum wage shows that, as in other countries, the results are mixed with modest negative or no effects.

Economic Development of the Major Cities in the Context of Demographic Challenges

In recent years, Russia has faced serious global challenges. Particular attention is required for demographic challenges, which are caused by natural population decline, ambiguous migration processes, and their exacerbation due to the spread of the coronavirus infection and subsequently the aggravation of the foreign policy situation. The largest Russian cities are centers of economic growth with significant potential for solving regional livelihood problems. An important indicator of the state and development of a city as a socio-economic system is the change in population size. The dynamics of demographic and other socio-economic indicators deserve detailed analysis and study. The results obtained must be considered when making strategic decisions and developing adaptation mechanisms. In the past five years, a natural population decline has prevailed in the studied largest municipalities, which is only partially offset by migration growth. In most cities with a population of over one million, there is a correlation between the dynamics of population growth (both natural and migration), the average wage level, and the quality of the urban environment. In cities with migration outflow, measures are needed to improve these parameters. Since all cities have developed industries, including due to natural and historical factors, systematic monitoring of the relevant indicators and a detailed analysis of the reasons for negative trends, including demographic ones, are important for ensuring balanced economic development. To ensure the balance of supply and demand in the labor market in terms of qualification and professional requirements and expectations, the implementation of regional programs and projects with the participation of government and business is proposed. In the context of the economic development of the largest cities and adaptation to global challenges, it is proposed that government authorities, local governments, the scientific community, and businesses identify new promising specializations for cities, including the need to enhance import substitution and implement high-tech, science-intensive industries.

The relationship between bank lending and economic factors in the regions of Kazakhstan

Understanding the impact of economic factors on bank lending is crucial in Kazakhstan’s modern economy, characterized by volatile inflation and fluctuations in real wages. This paper aims to investigate the link between bank lending and economic factors such as inflation, real wages, and consumer expenditure in a regional context. Data from the Bureau of National Statistics and the National Bank, covering the period from 2012 to 2022, were used to uncover how economic factors influence bank lending. For the analysis, various economic indicators were integrated through normalization and averaging. Analysis reveals significant regional disparities in real wages and consumer expenditures, which impact the demand for bank credit. The results of the correlation matrix showed that both real wages (P-value < 0.001) and inflation (P-value < 0.001) significantly impact bank lending, with an R² value of 0.998, indicating that the model explains 99.8% of the variation in bank lending. The regression analysis highlights that regions with higher real wages, such as Astana, Almaty, and Atyrau, provide the most favorable conditions for banking sector growth, demonstrated by a strong relationship between wages and bank lending. In contrast, regions with lower wage levels, such as Turkestan and Zhambyl, show a significantly weaker connection (around 0.65), reflecting their lower attractiveness for banking investment and emphasizing the need for policies to address social inequality. The Durbin-Watson test confirmed no autocorrelation in residuals (DW = 1.89), although heteroscedasticity was detected, suggesting the need for further model adjustments. The study emphasizes the importance of developing economic policies that can balance regional development and improve financial stability. AcknowledgmentsThis research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant “Development of mechanisms for reducing social inequality and improving the welfare of the population of Kazakhstan” AP19174744).

The Digital Edge: Skills That Matter in the European Labour Market after COVID-19

Following the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the emphasis on digitization and robotization has grown at an unprecedented rate in the global economy, resulting in significant changes to the labour market composition and increasing the value of digital skills. The aim of this article is to emphasize the ways in which people’s digital abilities and appetite for online activities are connected to job productivity (salary levels) and to determine which individual internet-based digital skills are genuinely important and correlated with better wages. We employed a Principal Component Analysis (PCA-type factorial analysis) with orthogonal rotation to gain a general understanding of the main components that synthesize the digital capabilities of individuals from the European countries analyzed. We decreased the dimensionality of our initial dataset to two major components, namely comprehensive online skills and digital social and media skills, keeping more than 80% of the overall variability. We then evaluated the potential association between the two created components and the average hourly wages and salaries. Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have observed an important shift in the impact of digital and internet skills on the job market in Europe. Thus, the development of comprehensive internet skills is highly correlated with individuals’ more effective integration into the labour market in Europe in general and the EU in particular, evidenced by better wage and salary levels (r = 0.740, p < 0.001). On the other hand, we found no correlation between the possibility of obtaining higher salaries for employees and the second component, digital social and media skills. The novelty of our research lies in its specific focus on the unique and immediate impacts of the pandemic, the accelerated adoption of digital skills, the integration of comprehensive individual internet skills, and the use of the most recent data to understand the labour market’s characteristics. This new approach offers fresh insights into how Europe’s workforce could evolve in response to unprecedented challenges, making it distinct from previous studies of labour market skills.

Влияние трудовой миграции на технологическое развитие стран ЕАЭС

The formation of a single labor market in the EAEU creates new opportunities and risks for national economies: the free movement of labor resources within the integration association affects not only the level of wages or employment, but also leads to more complex, complex consequences for donor and recipient countries. Using correlation analysis, the paper verifies the hypothesis that the reverse spillover effect associated with the return of migrant workers to their home countries contributes not only to the growth of value added in labor donor countries, but also stimulates demand for new technologies and services, which ultimately leads to an increase in the level of technological development of EAEU countries. As a result of the analysis, it was found that there is no statistically significant relationship between the variables under study – labor migration does not have a significant impact on the level of technological development of the EAEU countries. The results of the study can be used to develop a strategy of technological development of the EAEU countries, taking into account the parameters of external labor migration.

CLUSTER ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL WAGE DIFFERENCE IN KAZAKHSTAN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ITS REDUCTION

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of regional differences in wages, the development of a cluster typology of the regions of Kazakhstan in terms of wages and the justification of the possibilities of reducing its regional differentiation. The article provides an overview of scientists' points of view on the problem of labor income inequality, assesses the level of regional wage differences in Kazakhstan, conducts a cluster analysis and develops a typology of the country's regions according to the level of average nominal wages, gross regional product per capita and the share of gross value added of the quasi-public sector in the gross regional product. A group of regions has been identified that are most in need of regulatory measures to increase wages. The possibilities of reducing large regional wage differences are substantiated, primarily by attracting investments to boost the economy, increase employment and labor incomes, as well as by introducing increasing regional coefficients when setting minimum wage standards in remote areas, regions with difficult natural and climatic conditions. The methods of systematic literary review, logical analysis? analogies and generalizations, economic and statistical, cluster analysis, and typology are used.

Analysis of Factors that Affect the Length of Job Search for Educated Workers in West Lombok Regency

This research aims to analyze the influence of wage level, education level, age, gender, and job training on the length of time looking for work for educated workers in West Lombok Regency. This research uses a type of research, namely qualitative with secondary data. Data obtained from SAKERNAS in 2023. The amount of data obtained was 200 educated workers. The analytical tools used are multiple linear regression, coefficient of determination test (R2), partial significance test (t test) and simultaneous significance test (f test). The results of this study show that the variables of wage level, education level, age, gender and job training simultaneously do not have a significant effect on the length of looking for work. Meanwhile, the R2 value is 0.026, this means that 2.6% of the length of time looking for work for educated workers is influenced by variables above which the remainder is influenced by other variables outside this research.

A Critical Analysis on the Low Birth Rate Problem and the Effectiveness of Relevant Policy

This paper discusses the importance of the birth rate problem and the effectiveness of Chinas Three-Child policy. In order to efficiently elaborate problems, this paper analyses the issue from several perspectives. Firstly, a declining birth rate will have a negative impact on the global and domestic economic development due to the decrease in labour force. Secondly, this paper suggests that the key reason for this declining birth rate is the rising economic pressure on young people. This paper finds that China, Japan, and South Korea face the same low birth rate problem. Hence, this paper investigates the different wage levels and house prices among these East Asian countries and elaborates on the relationship associated with declining birth rates. Furthermore, this paper also discusses how to ensure the successful implementation of the Three-Child policy, and what effect the social welfare and the Three-Child policy can bring to help the society and the economy.

Assessing the impact of new technologies on wages and labour income shares

This paper advances the literature on the impacts of new technologies on labour markets, focusing on wage and labour income shares. Using a dataset from 32 countries and 38 industries, we analyse the effects of new technologies – proxied by patents, information and communication technology (ICT) capital usage, and robot intensity – on average wages and labour income shares over time. Our results indicate a positive correlation between patents and wage levels along with a minor negative impact on labour income shares, suggesting that technology rents are not fully passed on to labour. Robot intensity is positively associated with labour income shares, while ICT capital has an insignificant effect. These effects persist over time and are reinforced by global value chain (GVC) linkages. Our conclusions align with recent research indicating that new technologies have a generally limited impact on wages and labour income shares.

Disparity in employment in India: evidence from engineering graduates across social groups and gender

The study scrutinises caste and gender disparity in shaping employment outcomes and academic performances across 1406 students from a prestigious engineering college in Kerala, India, employing logistic regression of campus recruitment data. The study reveals that students from marginalised social groups experience significantly lower placement rates and exhibit substantially lower academic performance. Even after accounting for academic differences, marginalised community students are less likely to be employed, signalling labour market bias. Males within this marginalised group face even lower placement chances. When employed, marginalised group students are less likely to be employed in high-paying jobs. Interestingly, while females are preferred over males, especially in high-paying jobs, they are underrepresented in the engineering domain, particularly in the branches that are traditionally male-dominated. The study is among the first to comprehensively examine the interplay of multiple factors – employment disparity, wage levels, academic performances, caste and gender in campus recruitment.

The Impact of Decree 70/2023 on Labor Regulation and Industrial Relations in Argentina: A Legal and Economic Analysis

Decree 70/2023, issued by the Argentine government, addresses critical issues in labor and industrial relations amidst ongoing economic and social challenges. This study evaluates the decree’s impact on labor regulations, focusing on minimum wage standards, protection against unfair dismissal, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. Qualitative methods included legal document reviews and expert interviews, while quantitative methods involved assessing changes in wage levels, unemployment, and productivity. Key findings indicate that the decree’s increase in minimum wage aims to enhance worker welfare and stimulate economic growth, but poses challenges for employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Stricter procedures and improved compensation for layoffs are expected to reduce job insecurity and foster fairer employment practices, though these measures may raise operational costs and administrative burdens for businesses. Additionally, the new dispute resolution mechanisms, which emphasize mediation and arbitration, are designed to resolve conflicts more efficiently and transparently. However, consistent implementation and oversight remain critical challenges. The study concludes that while Decree 70/2023 represents a significant step towards better labor conditions and industrial relations in Argentina, its success will depend on rigorous enforcement and stakeholder cooperation. Further research should focus on the long-term effects of these regulations on Argentina’s labor market and economic stability, as well as continuous evaluation to refine these policies for optimal outcomes.

Optimal Short-Term Inflation Rate Forecasting Model in Kenya: in Depth Analysis

Purpose: The Kenya economy experienced an increase in the price of basic commodities, increased unemployment rates and consequently reduced real wage levels due to job cuts. An accurate forecast of this unprecedented inflation rate could have cushioned the Kenyan population from its effects. Uncertainty over future inflation forecasting has caused detrimental and negative impact not only globally but also in the Kenyan economy. Combining several techniques of forecasting is an instinctual way to improve prediction performance as the limitations of one method are compensated by the strength of the other model. The general objective of the study was to develop an optimal model of forecasting short term inflation rate in Kenya. The specific objectives were to establish models of forecasting short term inflation rate using SARIMA, GARCH and hybrid SARIMA-GARCH family Models, select optimal model amongst the three models and Predict 12 months ahead inflation rate using the optimal model. Scope of the study from 2005 January to 2024 July. The study was anchored on monetary theory of inflation, Keynesian theory of inflation as well as rationale expectation theory of inflation. Methodology: Data was sourced from KNBS and CBK. The study was guided by positivism research philosophy. Explanatory research design was used in this study. Target population was 230 monthly observations. Sample and sampling techniques used was time series. PACF, ACF Dfuller, Kpss test, Philips perron test indicated the data was stationary after 1ST differencing. Findings: Statistic validation test results indicated SARIMA’s (1,1,1)(1,1,)12 adjusted 2 R was perfectly 1 indicating all variations in squared residuals were explained by lagged residuals. P- value for lagged squared residuals were significant at (0.00). F-statisticvalue was significant (0.020) suggesting overall model fit. Model stability test AR roots polynomial lied outside the unit circle. eGarch(1,1) model with lowest aic -0.534 was best in Garch Family models. Hybrid Sarima((1,1,1),(1,1,1) eGARCH(1,1) was identified. Comparison of Sarima(1,1,1)(1,1,1)12, eGARCH (1,1) and Hybrid Sarima((1,1,1),(1,1,1)12 eGARCH(1,1) using forecast accuracy revealed that hybrid model was the optimal model with lowest MAE 0.166 and RMSE 0.259. Diagnostic checks The Ljung- Box test (LL) and Q2 indicated non-significant autocorrelation p- value were greater than 05% indicating that the models residuals were white noise. The DOF/GED parameter (4.144466*, 1.101958, 6.977499) represented the degrees of freedom for the tdistribution and the coefficients where significant at 0.05% meaning the model’s assumptions for normal distributions were met. The coefficients of AR Normal 0.048140, T-Student −0.031854, GED −0.02396 and MA Normal 0.055167 ,T-Student 0.059645, GED 0.051390 terms were significant at 5%. Recommendations: The results implied that the model predicted a decrease in the Kenya’s inflation rate for the next 12 months. The study recommended that inflation rate would be hovering below an average rate of 10 within the next 12 months with high volatility up to July 2025 and policy makers should use this prediction for planning in order to maintain Kenya’s macroeconomic stability. Policy makers were also advised to use the hybrid model to forecast short term inflation rate 12 months ahead and in future years. The benefits of the study were added knowledge of hybridizing to researchers and to policy makers. This study therefore provided better inflation forecasts (Kenya) to be used for strategical planning for short -term effects of inflation by the government.

Analysis of Population, Education Level, Wage Level, and Health Level on Labor Absorption in Bekasi City

Analysis of Population, Education Level, Wage Level, and Health Level on Labor Absorption in Bekasi City

Designing an Effective Minimum Wage Policy for Sustainable Development in India

The articulated objectives of the minimum wage policy in India—specifically targeting poverty alleviation, reducing income inequality, promoting gender equity, and encouraging responsible consumption—are fundamentally aligned with the broader principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These policy goals, if effectively implemented, have the potential to make substantial contributions toward the achievement of multiple SDGs, particularly those related to ending poverty (SDG 1), reducing inequalities (SDG 10), promoting gender equality (SDG 5), and ensuring decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). However, the complex structure of minimum wages in India poses several challenges to achieving these outcomes. Among these challenges, we specifically discuss partial coverage, low rates of minimum wage fixation and a high incidence of noncompliance. The limited coverage undermines the effectiveness of minimum wage policies as a tool for poverty reduction and income redistribution. Noncompliance not only denies workers their rightful earnings but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality. It particularly affects vulnerable groups, such as women and rural workers, who are more likely to be employed in sectors with weak enforcement of wage standards. By surveying some recent empirical literature, we identify the significance of minimum wages in mitigating poverty, income inequality and promoting gender equality and decent work. Literature from India suggests that minimum wages if implemented with full compliance would reduce poverty by 7-10 percent and gender wage gap up to 18 percent. Further, we elaborate briefly on strengthening the minimum wages. Universalising the legal coverage of minimum wages is the first step towards an effective minimum wage policy. Fixing adequate levels of minimum wages and then revising them from time to time with inflation indexing is the next important step. Lastly we argue that enabling a conducive environment for firms; compliance is the most crucial. This paper is intended to stimulate further discussion and reflection on the vital role that minimum wage policies can play in advancing the SDGs in India. By linking minimum wages more explicitly to the SDGs, policymakers can develop more integrated and effective strategies to tackle poverty, reduce inequality, and promote sustainable economic growth. The goal is to ensure that minimum wages not only provide a safety net for workers but also contribute to broader social and economic development objectives.

How industrial robots affect employment: firm-level evidence from China

Using China’s Annual Survey of Industrial Firms (ASIF) and the China Customs Database (CCD) from 2000 to 2013, this study explores the impact of adopting industrial robots on the employment in Chinese manufacturing firms. We find a positive association between the adoption of industrial robots and the employment scale of China’s manufacturing enterprises. We also find evidence that the positive association is more pronounced in capital-intensive industries, non-state-owned firms, and firms in coastal areas. Mechanism test indicates that ‘scale expansion effects’ and ‘productivity effects’ are the main channels through which industrial robots promote employment growth. Further analysis indicates that the adoption of industrial robots did not have obvious industry spillover effects. Additionally, other labor market results demonstrate that the adoption of industrial robots significantly increases the average wage level of enterprises while decreasing their labor share. This study provides micro-level evidence revealing the impact of adopting industrial robots on employment in developing countries. It also provides important policy implications for countries worldwide seeking to promote automated production.

Analysis of the Influence of Workload, Wage Level, and Ritase on the Performance of Transport Service Drivers at PT Barokah Bumi Jaya

Analysis of the Influence of Workload, Wage Level, and Ritase on the Performance of Transport Service Drivers at PT Barokah Bumi Jaya

Analyzing the Factors Influencing Green Job Participation and Income Effects Using National Labor Force Data

This study is focused on two main objectives: 1) to analyze the factors that influence the possibility of individuals working in the green job sector in Indonesia, and 2) to analyze the effects of green jobs on individuals’ income. Using data from the National Labor Force Survey (SAKERNAS), the study employed (1) logistic regression to examine the factors that determine an individual's likelihood of getting a green job, (2) regression analyses based on Heckman selection bias correction to see the effects of green jobs on workers' income. The results show that the characteristics of green jobs in Indonesia are dominated by young and prime-age male workers with low education and experience, with no physical or mental health problems. From the welfare perspective, green workers tend to have higher income levels than those of workers employed in the non-green job sector. This research fills a significant gap, as studies on green jobs in Indonesia—particularly those focusing on wage levels—are scarce. Therefore, it is crucial to develop tailored policy strategies that address green job creation, benefiting both environmental quality and the labor market. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-03-014 Full Text: PDF

The right to fair pay and two paradigms of prison work

Is the low level of wages paid to prisoners for their work morally wrong and contrary to the human right to fair pay? This article contrasts two paradigms of prison work, one in which it is an ordinary market transaction to which normal employment rights should apply, with the rival and dominant paradigm that prisoners do not have contracts for the performance of work and sums paid to them are not pay or remuneration but rather a small incentive to perform work in a diligent way. The article also considers what would be required for prisoners’ pay to comply with the human right to fair pay, which has been viewed in three different ways – the right to be a member of a trade union for the purpose of collective bargaining, the right to a living wage that enables a life of dignity, and the right to equal pay with others who perform similar work.