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The ‘Employability Gap’: Long-Term Unemployment and Barriers to Work in Buoyant Labour Markets

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  • Ronald W McQuaid
  • Colin Lindsay

Abstract

We analyse the main barriers limiting the employability of long-term unemployed job seekers within a local labour market characterised by generally high levels of demand. We use four key elements of employability (employability assets, the deployment of assets, the presentation of assets, and context) as an analytical framework in order to analyse the manner in which job seekers' personal characteristics, social and family circumstances, and perceptions of the labour market affect their ability to pursue employment opportunities. The results of interviews carried out with 115 long-term unemployed job seekers show that individual and family circumstances and attitudes towards work and job seeking are likely to be increasingly important barriers given the context of a relative lack of demand-side problems and the availability of lower-skilled jobs in expanding industries. In particular, many long-term unemployed job seekers were reluctant to seek jobs in the expanding service sectors of the local economy. Although the concept of employability provides a useful theoretical and policy framework for analysing long-term unemployment issues, models based upon an employability framework should be expanded to incorporate the role of employers and so integrate supply-side and demand-side perspectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald W McQuaid & Colin Lindsay, 2002. "The ‘Employability Gap’: Long-Term Unemployment and Barriers to Work in Buoyant Labour Markets," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 20(4), pages 613-628, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:20:y:2002:i:4:p:613-628
    DOI: 10.1068/c22m
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gary S. Becker, 1975. "Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis, with Special Reference to Education, Second Edition," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck75-1, August.
    2. Mike Campbell, 2000. "Reconnecting the Long Term Unemployed to Labour Market Opportunity: The Case for a 'Local Active Labour Market Policy'," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(7), pages 655-668, October.
    3. Bennett, Robert & Glennerster, Howard & Nevison, Douglas, 1992. "Investing in Skill: To Stay on or Not to Stay on?," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 130-145, Summer.
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    1. Atif Aziz & Faizuniah Pangil, 2017. "Moderating Effect of and Emotional Intelligence on the Relationship between Skills and Employability," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 1-22, March.
    2. Ross Brown & Mike Danson, 2003. "‘Going Grey’: Demographic Change and the Changing Labour Market in Scotland," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 18(4), pages 291-305, November.
    3. Colin Lindsay & Garry Sturgeon, 2003. "Local Responses to Longterm Unemployment: Delivering Access to Employment in Edinburgh," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 18(2), pages 159-173, May.
    4. Olusanya E. Olubusoye & Afees A. Salisu & Sam O. Olofin, 2023. "Youth unemployment in Nigeria: nature, causes and solutions," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1125-1157, April.

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