News, media releases, opinions and articles from the Centre for Future Work.
Insecure work: The New Normal
Most Australians know in their guts that it’s pretty hard to find a traditional permanent job these days. And now the statistics confirm it: less than half of employed Australians have one of those “standard” jobs. And more than half experience one or more dimensions of insecurity: including part-time, irregular, casual, contractor, and marginally self-employed…
For First Time, Less than Half of Workers Have a ‘Standard Job’
For the first time on record, less than half of employed Australians hold a ‘standard job’: a permanent full-time paid job with leave entitlements.
Key findings:
All 11 statistical indicators of employment insecurity (including part-time work, underemployment, casual jobs, and marginal self-emplo…
A Comprehensive and Realistic Strategy for More and Better Jobs
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has released a major policy paper outlining an ambitious, multi-faceted program to address the chronic shortage of work, and the steady erosion of job quality, in Australia. The full paper, Jobs You Can Count On, contains specific proposals to stimulate much…
Government Spending Power Could Support Stronger Wage Growth
Australia’s state and federal governments could help solve the problem of stagnant wages by better leveraging their own spending power. New research from the Centre for Future Work demonstrates a strong connection between government spending and working conditions across the economy.
Three main a…
Don’t blame it on the deficit: WA
A report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work shows Western Australia’s recent budget deficit is the result – not the cause – of deteriorating economic conditions. Contrary to calls for fiscal austerity and public sector downsizing, the report showed that budget defi…
Wages Crisis Has Obvious Solutions
Mainstream economists and conservative political leaders profess “surprise” at the historically slow pace of wage growth in Australia’s labour market. This view ignores the importance of institutional and regulatory factors in determining wages and income distribution. Given the systematic effort…