An article compared policy development on unemployment in three European countries – Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Despite much reform in the direction of an 'activating' kind of unemployment policy, differences between unemployment policies remained.
Source: Patrizia Aurich, 'Activating the unemployed – directions and divisions in Europe', European Journal of Social Security, Volume 13 Number 3
Links: Abstract | Table of contents
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined globalization's influences on individual life courses in different European societies, and political strategies to mediate this influence. Globalization did not lead to a 'race to the bottom' in modern welfare states but was mediated differently by nation-specific institutions. Employment insecurity was often channelled to specific disadvantaged groups, thereby amplifying existing inequality structures.
Source: Hans-Peter Blossfeld, Sandra Buchholz, Dirk Hofacker, and Kathrin Kolb (eds.), Globalized Labour Markets and Social Inequality in Europe, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
A paper examined the extent to which the global financial and economic crisis had affected labour market developments in Europe. Institutional arrangements – such as employment protection, unemployment insurance benefits, and minimum income support – had played a crucial role in determining the extent to which the crisis had led to higher unemployment, wage cuts, or income losses and rising poverty. They had also led to an unequal distribution of economic risks across socio-economic groups.
Source: Gaetano Basso, Matthias Dolls, Werner Eichhorst, Thomas Leoni, and Andreas Peichl, The Effects of the Recent Economic Crisis on Social Protection and Labour Market Arrangements Across Socio-Economic Groups, Discussion Paper 6080, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the causal assumptions and policy recommendations found in the documents of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) concerning labour market issues. Demand management and other ways of tackling unemployment had been dismissed in favour of interventions seeking to stimulate the self-governing capacities of the unemployed, entrepreneurs, students, and others.
Source: Peter Triantafillou, 'The OECD's thinking on the governing of unemployment', Policy & Politics, Volume 39 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A report examined how to foster inclusive labour markets in the European Union, and how to prevent and tackle child poverty. It considered how these challenges could be best addressed, and highlighted examples of good practice. It sought to identify concrete policy solutions to these challenges that could be applied during implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Source: Policy Solutions for Fostering Inclusive Labour Markets and for Combating Child Poverty and Social Exclusion, EU Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion/European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined the effects of taxation on employment in developed (OECD) countries. It said that well-targeted tax reforms could encourage employers to hire more people, and jobless people to look for employment. Governments should consider tax cuts for employers who hired low-skilled workers – particularly young people and long-term unemployed people.
Source: Taxation and Employment, Tax Policy Study 21, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Summary | OECD press release
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined variations in labour market policies across European Union countries, and the impact of labour market institutions on labour market outcomes. It looked at the models of 'flexicurity' and the 'transitional labour market' for labour market reform.
Source: Ferry Koster, John McQuinn, Iulia Siedschlag, and Olaf van Vliet, Labour Market Models in the EU, Special Report 1, NEUJOBS project/European Commission
Links: Link removed
Date: 2011-Sep
A think-tank report set out a series of recommendations designed to promote growth in employment and limit the expansion of long-term unemployment. The path back to full employment would not be an easy one: the public sector had been compensating for insufficient private sector job creation over the previous 20 years, but public sector employment was now set to fall. The coalition government's plans for growth and job creation were insufficient to meet the combined challenges of high unemployment and a growing labour supply.
Source: Tony Dolphin, Kayte Lawton, and Clare McNeil, Jobs for the Future: The path back to full employment in the UK, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report | IPPR press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined European Union measures to fight unemployment, develop new skills, and create new jobs as part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth.
Source: Social Europe Guide Volume 1: Employment Policy, European Commission
Links: Report | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Sep
The Department for Work and Pensions published its annual report for 2010-11.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11, HC 1010, Department for Work and Pensions, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
Jobcentre Plus published its annual report for 2010-11.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11, HC 1165, Jobcentre Plus, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A new book examined how the government and key labour market policy-makers could ensure that the labour market provided job opportunities and reasonable levels of social justice during a period of economic recession. It looked at the major challenges faced, including: unemployment, immigration, housing, and job subsidies; key institutional changes, such as the decline of collective regulation and the rise of occupational licensing; pay inequality and minimum wages; and pay and subsidies in the private and public sector.
Source: David Marsden (ed.), Employment in the Lean Years: Policy and prospects for the next decade, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper outlined a proposal for a system of work-sharing in developed countries that would give employers an incentive to maintain workers on their payroll at reduced hours as an alternative to laying them off.
Source: Dean Baker, Work Sharing: The quick route back to full employment, Center for Economic and Policy Research (Washington, USA)
Links: Paper | CEPR press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An employers' organization said that the labour market suffered from 'deep-seated structural problems' that would not be solved by a return to economic growth alone. Problems included pockets of long-term unemployment and inactivity, high public sector dependency, and serious skills shortages.
Source: Mapping the Route to Growth: Rebalancing employment, Confederation of British Industry
Links: Report | CBI press release | REC press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A new book examined the relationship between labour market institutions and unemployment.
Source: Richard Layard and Stephen Nickell (edited by Werner Eichhorst and Klaus Zimmermann), Combatting Unemployment, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary | LSE press release
Date: 2011-May
The Department for Work and Pensions published a revised business plan, covering the period 2011-2015.
Source: Business Plan 2011-2015, Department for Work and Pensions
Date: 2011-May
Researchers examined what employers wanted from an aligned employment and skills system; and the extent to which employers, employer representatives, and stakeholders in the system thought that it was 'joined up'. In order to improve joint working, stakeholders should consider developing joint aims and objectives across existing employment and skills services.
Source: Sarah Jenkins, Jane Darragh, and Jayesh Navin Shah, What Do Employers Want from an Aligned Employment and Skills System?, Research Report 743, Department for Work and Pensions
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined the 'open method of co-ordination' in the area of European Union employment policies. In practice very little co-ordination was in place: although there was a need to acquire relevant information, it was difficult to transform knowledge into political will and then into action. There seemed to be a problem of communication between the centre and periphery of the EU.
Source: Silvana Sciarra, Experiments in the Open Method of Coordination: Measuring the impact of EU employment policies, Working Paper 06, Center for Labor and Economic Growth (Rome)
Links: Paper
Notes: The open method of co-ordination (OMC) is an intergovernmental means of governance in the European Union, based on the voluntary co-operation of member states rather than the application of legislative measures.
Date: 2011-May
A paper provided an overview of the labour market situation and employment policy developments in the European Union during the period 2009-2011.
Source: Boguslavas Gruzevskis and Inga Blaziene, Overview of the Labour Market Situation and Employment Policy Developments in 2009-2011, European Employment Observatory
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Apr
The European Commission identified 12 priority measures designed to foster growth and employment by improving mobility for workers and businesses.
Source: Single Market Act: Twelve Levers to Boost Growth and Strengthen Confidence – 'Working together to create new growth', European Commission
Links: Report | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Apr
A report reviewed efforts within the framework of the 'Europe 2020' agenda aimed at raising employment rates and skills levels.
Source: Nina Arnhold, Marcin Piatkowski, and Joost de Laat, Europe 2020: The Employment, Skills and Innovation Agenda, World Bank
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
A think-tank report said that the government needed to adopt a long-term industrial strategy designed to produce not just jobs but good jobs – jobs that helped the attainment of the three overarching goals of well-being, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
Source: James Meadway, Charles Seaford, Tony Greenham, and Stewart Wallis, The Good Jobs Plan: A new approach to industrial strategy, New Economics Foundation
Links: Report | Summary | Morning Star report
Date: 2011-Mar
A new book examined the development of labour market policy reforms in Europe, at both national and EU level. It said that new elements inspired by Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon models had been combined in different ways with existing policies and institutions, resulting in hybrid labour market regimes.
Source: Timo Weishaupt, From the Manpower Revolution to the Activation Paradigm: Explaining institutional continuity and change in an integrating Europe, Amsterdam University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined the role of regeneration policies in tackling worklessness. The neighbourhood level was an appropriate level for outreach to disadvantaged residents, and the voluntary sector could play an important role in facilitating community participation. But partnerships had been costly to develop and support, and had not generated the critical mass of support for the neighbourhoods that had been envisaged.
Source: Anne Green, Addressing the Problem of Worklessness: The Role of Regeneration, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A study examined the use of public-private local partnerships across European countries to prevent or counteract the effects of the economic crisis on labour markets. Local employment initiatives were found to have played only a limited role: ad hoc measures and programmes had generally been designed and introduced by national authorities.
Source: Claire Duchemin and Pat Irving, Joint Public-Private Local Partnerships for Employment to Cope with the Recession, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined the future of cohesion policy in the European Union, aimed at ensuring economic, social, and territorial cohesion. It said that cohesion policy should remain European, with no re-nationalization of any kind, and with an increased involvement of regions at all stages of the decision-making process.
Source: Estelle Delangle, Cohesion in Europe: Regions take up the challenge, Assembly of European Regions
Date: 2011-Jan
A report by a committee of peers said that there should be an annual debate by the House of Lords of the government's National Reform Programme setting out progress by the United Kingdom on the European Union strategy for inclusive economic growth (2010-2020).
Source: The EU Strategy for Economic Growth and the UK National Reform Programme, 5th Report (Session 2010-11), HL 81, House of Lords European Union Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined employment policy responses by EU member states to the economic crisis, including ways of preparing individuals and companies to meet structural challenges.
Source: GHK with CERGE-EI, How to Balance Employment Policy Responses to the Crisis and Preparing Individuals and Companies to Meet Structural Challenges, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan