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The Role of Non-Traditional Work in the Australian Labour Market

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  • Productivity Commission

Abstract

The Productivity commission research paper, ‘The Role of Non-Traditional Work in the Australian Labour Market’ was released on 25 May 2006. There is continuing debate in Australia about the effects of labour market changes on the wellbeing of workers and their families. One such change has been the growth of various forms of employment collectively referred to as ‘non-traditional’ or ‘non-standard’. The Commission has conducted research into each of these forms of employment. This Paper builds on and extends that earlier work. In particular, it uses the most recent data from the important Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to provide a more complete perspective over time. The Commission finds that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the growth of non-traditional employment in recent years has been in step with that of the workforce in general. Drawing on the HILDA survey, this study also demonstrates the diversity of circumstances of those in such jobs and the dangers of making generalisations about their job satisfaction or wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Productivity Commission, 2006. "The Role of Non-Traditional Work in the Australian Labour Market," Research Papers 0601, Productivity Commission, Government of Australia.
  • Handle: RePEc:ris:prodrp:0601
    as

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    File URL: http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/8431/nontraditionalwork.pdf
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    File URL: http://www.pc.gov.au/research/commissionresearch/nontraditionalwork
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joanna Abhayaratna & Les Andrews & Hudan Nuch & Troy Podbury, 2008. "Part Time Employment: the Australian Experience," Staff Working Papers 0805, Productivity Commission, Government of Australia.
    2. Andrew Stewart, 2008. "WorkChoices and Independent Contractors: The Revolution That Never Happened," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 18(2), pages 53-62, May.
    3. Inga Laß & Mark Wooden, 2019. "Non-standard Employment and Wages in Australia," RBA Annual Conference Papers acp2019-04, Reserve Bank of Australia, revised Jul 2019.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    casual employees; fixed-term employees; labour hire employees; self-employed contractors; wages; family income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics

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