News, media releases, opinions and articles from the Centre for Future Work.
Webinar: How TAFE Can Drive Australia’s Skills and Jobs Recovery
With millions facing unemployment and crisis-accelerated job transitions, public investment in the skills and earning capabilities of Australians will be critical to our post-pandemic recovery. The webinar was presented as part of the Australia Institute’s widely acclaimed Economics of a Pandemic webinar series and explored why the TAFE system has been in turmoil, the historic role…
TAFE system supports $92.5 billion in annual economic benefits
New research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work shows the TAFE system supports $92.5 billion in annual economic benefits through the direct operation of TAFE institutes, higher incomes and productivity generated by the TAFE-credentialed workforce, and reduced social benefits co…
Failure to Invest in New Tech Damaging Economy, Incomes & Jobs
Startling new research from the Centre for Future Work shows that Australia’s economy is now regressing in its use of new technology, with negative implications for productivity, incomes, and job quality.
Major findings:
Business investment in new machinery (including robots) is weaker than at an…
Post-COVID Manufacturing Renewal Represents Potential $50 Billion Boost to Economy
New research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work reveals that Australia ranks last among all OECD countries for manufacturing self-sufficiency, but also reveals the enormous potential benefits of rebuilding manufacturing: including $180 billion in new sales, $50 billion in addit…
Victorian Inquiry Offers Novel Routes to Regulating Gig Work
Findings from a landmark inquiry commissioned by the Andrews Victorian government into the work conditions in the “on demand” (gig) economy have been released. The report’s findings are timely with COVID-era unemployment surging and an expanding pool of vulnerable workers relying on “gig” work to meet living costs. This commentary outlines the key findings of the…
Austerity Threatens Women’s Access to Paid Work
Women have suffered the worst labour market impacts since the shutdowns. Gender-unequal impacts have been due to women’s greater exposure to customer-facing industries shut down first by public health orders, higher employment intensity in insecure and part-time positions, and an increased caring burden unmet by the state. But instead of providing countervailing support, the federal…