Employers are reporting shortages of skilled labour, yet unskilled workers are sitting idle on welfare. Many commentators think both problems can be solved by more education and training, but this paper disputes this. The solution to the skills shortage lies in policies like delayed retirement and increased female participation in the workforce. The solution to...

A report on the appropriateness of current services, provider incentives and government administration of Job Network with respect to assisting disadvantaged job seekers. According to the report current Job Network arrangements do not meet the changing needs of increasingly disadvantaged job seekers and an urgent overhaul is needed if unemployed Australians are to look forward...

There is a close correspondence between disability benefit receipt and labour market outcomes according to this study of Centrelink records. Entry to disability support pensions via unemployment benefits is associated with substantially reduced prospects of exiting the pension, while employment during this time is associated with increased success in staying off payments once an exit...

Sue Richardson describes the overall unemployment picture, including the situation of some groups at particularly high risk of unemployment, then looks at underemployment and long term unemployment. She describes the experiences of men and of women, and of youth and older workers.

Stephen Ziguras and Jacinda Kleidon provide four case studies of local innovative approaches to employment support in disadvantaged communities: Neighbourhood Renewal in Fitzroy and Collingwood, an Adult Migrant Education Service/BSL cleaning enterprise, YP4 young homeless jobseekers trial, and Westgate Community Initiatives Group disability employment programs.