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Labour Underutilisation in Metropolitan Labour Markets in Australia: Individual Characteristics, Personal Circumstances and Local Labour Markets

Author

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  • Scott Baum

    (Urban Research Program, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia, s.baum@griffith.edu.au)

  • Anthea Bill

    (Centre of Full Employment and Equity, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, anthea.bill@newcastle.edu.au)

  • William Mitchell

    (Centre of Full Employment and Equity, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, bill.mitchell@newcastle.edu.au)

Abstract

There has been a growing awareness that the issue of labour market disadvantage is substantially greater than merely considering unemployment and the ability to find a job. There is an increasing literature that points to the advantages of considering a broader concept which accounts not only for those people who are traditionally unemployed, but also for individuals who are underemployed and those who are sub-unemployed or discouraged workers. Taking multidimensional survey and census data for Australian metropolitan regions, this paper applies a broad employability framework to an understanding of labour underutilisation which presents the risk of underutilisation as a function of individual characteristics, personal circumstances and the impact of local labour market characteristics. The analysis finds that the risk of labour underutilisation is associated with a range of individual characteristics and personal circumstances together with the characteristics of the metropolitan local labour market.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Baum & Anthea Bill & William Mitchell, 2008. "Labour Underutilisation in Metropolitan Labour Markets in Australia: Individual Characteristics, Personal Circumstances and Local Labour Markets," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 45(5-6), pages 1193-1216, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:45:y:2008:i:5-6:p:1193-1216
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098008089865
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Justin Doran & Bernard Fingleton, 2016. "Employment Resilience in Europe and the 2008 Economic Crisis: Insights from Micro-Level Data," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(4), pages 644-656, April.

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