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Job Insecurity: A Comparative Analysis between Migrant and Native Workers in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaomin Liu

    (Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
    Psychiatric Unit, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China)

  • Steven J. Bowe

    (Deakin Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia)

  • Allison Milner

    (Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Lin Li

    (Nigel Gray Fellowship Group, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Lay San Too

    (Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia)

  • Anthony D. LaMontagne

    (Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health & Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
    Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

Abstract

Job insecurity is a modifiable risk factor for poor health outcomes, and exposure to job insecurity varies by population groups. This study assessed if job insecurity exposure varied by migrant status and if the differences varied by gender, age, educational attainment, and occupational skill level. Data were from wave 14 of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. The outcome was job insecurity. Exposure was migrant status defined by (1) the country of birth (COB), (2) the dominant language of the COB, and (3) the number of years since arrival in Australia. Data were analysed using linear regression, adjusting for gender, age, educational attainment, and occupational skill level. These covariates were also analysed as effect modifiers for the migrant status–job insecurity relationships. Migrant workers, especially those from non-English speaking countries (non-ESC-born), experienced higher job insecurity than Australia-born workers; however, these disparities disappeared after 11+ years post-arrival. The migrant status–job insecurity relationships were modified by educational attainment. Unexpectedly, the disparities in job insecurity between non-ESC-born migrants and Australia-born workers increased with increasing educational attainment, and for those most highly educated, the disparities persisted beyond 11 years post-arrival. Our findings suggested that continuing language skill support and discrimination prevention could facilitate migrant integration into the Australian labour market.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaomin Liu & Steven J. Bowe & Allison Milner & Lin Li & Lay San Too & Anthony D. LaMontagne, 2019. "Job Insecurity: A Comparative Analysis between Migrant and Native Workers in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4159-:d:281156
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