Unemployment from the perspective of the psychology of working

Unemployment is a ubiquitous problem that is a complex of cultural, economic interpersonal, physical, and psychological dimensions. Whereas the pernicious negative outcomes of unemployment are empirically established in the literature, there is a need to better understand the psychological experiences of unemployment so as to inform interventions that ameliorate its impact. The present research is based on archival interview data and uses the psychology of working theory to understand 32 individuals’ experiences of unemployment. The findings include themes that are consistent with the hypothesized predictors posited in the theory, including: marginalization, economic constraints, volition, career adaptability, proactive personality, critical consciousness, social support, and economic conditions. The research findings affirm the conceptual precepts of the theory with regards to its predictors; thus this contribution to the literature on the psychology of working and unemployment opens new perspectives on a perennial problem

Decent Work’s Association With Job Satisfaction, Work Engagement, and Withdrawal Intentions in Australian Working Adults

The present research is focused on the measurement properties of the Decent Work Scale (DWS) in Australia and adds to the cumulative evidence of the measure’s international utility for psychological research into the role of work in people’s lives. The study contributes new evidence via a survey of a sample of workers (N ¼ 201) who completed the DWS and criterion measures of career-related factors including job satisfaction, work engagement, and withdrawal intentions. Correlated factors, higher order, and bifactor models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. All models were satisfactory and the bifactor model evinced preferable fit. The DWS Values Congruence subscale predicted all criterion measures. Workers’ incomes and ratings of their occupations’ prestige had no main effects or interaction effect on the DWS subscales. Recommendations for future research include testing the DWS’s relations with measures of mental health which are known correlates of career-related outcomes

Mature aged job seekers' experiences of Centrelink and Job Network Services in an Australian regional centre

Unemployment may be considered a normal, if not likely, experience of a person's lifelong career. This paper is based on a primary, qualitative study that focused on the way mature aged unemployed citizens experience government unemployment and employment agencies: Centrelink and the Job Network in a large regional city. It contributes to existing research that examines the experiences of particular unemployed groups as they negotiate their journey through these systems. Three themes emerged from the research, which was based on multiple in-depth interviews of 21 participants: the first focused on participants' experiences of disregard, disrespect and discrimination; the second related to the restrictiveness of job information, and; the third to inappropriate job matching and inadequate employability training. We conclude that the experience of our participants supports criticisms made in other research about the restrictiveness and inadequacy of Job Network services, particularly for disadvantaged jobseekers

Myths and realities a critical expose of older workers and industrial relations reforms in Australia

A decisive 2004 fourth term win for the Howard Government and control over the Senate provided the Australian government with a strong mandate to further deregulate the labour market in the name of ‘flexibility’. This conceptual paper uses a critical perspective to challenge the wisdom of neo-liberal market economics as the driving force behind the rapid expansion of non-traditional ‘flexible’ forms of work and argues that this kind of divestment strategy can produce negative long term consequences including under utilisation of labour and skill shortages stemming from a lack of investment in human capital. In the context of an ageing workforce and predictions that labour shortages are set to intensify long into the future, the Howard Government have adopted modest measures designed to counter age based discrimination and encourage workforce participation by older workers. However, it is also argued that the Government’s labour market deregulation policies are reducing the availability of jobs that provide sufficient working conditions and remuneration to make workforce participation attractive to many of those not working. The erosion of employment conditions associated with a reformed ‘flexible’ workforce leads to underemployment and other employment outcomes that often fail to meet the needs of disadvantaged groups in the labour market. Recent research has shown that workforce participation rates among mature age workers in Australia have remained one of the lowest among OECD countries. However, the Government has recently begun embarking on reforms that appear to provide genuine incentives aimed specifically at attracting workforce participation among older workers

Privileged elite or double-y disadvantaged? Ageing workers in Australia's labour market

What is the state-of-play for mature-aged workers in the Australian labour market? Are they a 'disadvantaged group' or instead part of the privileged elite? This article co-authored by Dr Chris Kossen, University of Southern Queensland and Dr Jane O'Leary, DCA's Research Director, considers this issue and in the process, raises the concept of employment 'scarring' and offers suggestions for employers seeking to address 'grey walls and ceilings' associated with this social phenomenon

Trialling micro-learning design to increase engagement in online courses

Purpose: This paper reports on how micro-learning design principles are being trialled in an Australian and a Malaysian university to make online courses more accessible and attractive, and a more positive experience, with the aim of increasing student success. Central to this approach is segmenting materials into “bite-size” instalments by way of short micro-lecture presentations and reducing other content. The aim of this “less is more” strategy is to reduce unnecessary cognitive load as an impediment to learning so that focus can shift to prioritising the most essential skills and content. The purpose of this trial is to explore the efficacy of micro-learning as a means for increasing student engagement and learning. Design/methodology/approach: The trials involved a mixed mode methodology drawing on qualitative and ratings data from course satisfaction surveys and records on grades and completion. Findings: To date, results have shown significant increases in student engagement and satisfaction, and also performance. Our application of micro-learning included reducing volume of content based on its practical value, use of novelty (e.g. infusing guest presenter input) and design of practical and collaborative student activities. Research limitations/implications: Early results are encouraging regarding apparent utility for engaging learners and ease of application, i.e. implementability and transference potential. However, the rapidly expanding area of online learning requires further research to establish a well-validated evidence base for effective online teaching practices. Practical implications: The findings are relevant to universities involved in online and blended learning. Micro-learning design methods show promise in being able to address major engagement barriers including cognitive overload. Social implications: More students are struggling with learning in today's social environment brought about with the massification of higher education. Micro-learning seeks to address major barriers these learners face with methods that go beyond traditional teaching practices. Originality/value: Findings here are encouraging and contribute to existing understanding on ways to increase learner engagement in the competitive and fast-growing area of online learning for universities globally

Gold collar workers: golden or impoverished futures?

Long neglected in policy and public consciousness, mature aged-workers have come to prominence in many advanced capitalist countries as governments and researchers identify the 'ageing of the population' as a key social problem for the future. One immediate response has been to construct the problem as one of the systematic discrimination of mature-aged workers in the labour market. Government policy now aims to address the expected shortfall of workers in national labour markets by encouraging mature-aged workers to stay in the labour market. However, with a Senate majority as of 1 July 2005, the government is clearly much more interested in radical deregulation of the labour market. This further deregulation of the labour market is likely to increase financial hardship among the population, one in which mature-aged workers are particularly vulnerable. This paper focuses on this emergent debate, especially in the Australian context, and criticises the government's renewed and vigorous pursuit of labour market deregulation. Finally the paper outlines a number of measured regulatory approaches in particular 'risk pooling' which includes the provision of portability of entitlements for workers

International backpackers' experiences of precarious visa-contingent farmwork

Purpose Australia's agricultural industry has become highly dependent on young low-cost, overseas 'working holiday' visa workers known as 'backpackers', who are notoriously subject to exploitative workplace practices. This study aimed to explore backpackers' experiences in terms of how job demands, job resources and personal resources influence their appraisals of working in agriculture. Design/methodology/approach In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to explore the work experiences of N = 21 backpackers employed under the Australian Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). Data were analyzed by thematic analysis and organized in terms of job demands and resources. Findings This study revealed job demands commonly experienced by agricultural backpacker workers (e.g. precarity, physically strenuous work, low pay), and job resources (e.g. adequate training, feedback) and personal resources (e.g. attitude, language) that buffer the demands. The findings indicate that backpackers' appraisals of their experiences and performance decline when demands outweigh resources. Originality/value This study offers an emic perspective on the work of an understudied segment of the agricultural workforce. The findings have implications for improving work practices and policies aimed at attracting and retaining this important labour source in the future

International backpackers' experiences of precarious visa-contingent farmwork

Purpose: Australia's agricultural industry has become highly dependent on young low-cost, overseas “working holiday” visa workers known as “backpackers”, who are notoriously subject to exploitative workplace practices. This study aimed to explore backpackers' experiences in terms of how job demands, job resources and personal resources influence their appraisals of working in agriculture. Design/methodology/approach: In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to explore the work experiences of N = 21 backpackers employed under the Australian Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). Data were analyzed by thematic analysis and organized in terms of job demands and resources. Findings: This study revealed job demands commonly experienced by agricultural backpacker workers (e.g. precarity, physically strenuous work, low pay), and job resources (e.g. adequate training, feedback) and personal resources (e.g. attitude, language) that buffer the demands. The findings indicate that backpackers' appraisals of their experiences and performance decline when demands outweigh resources. Originality/value: This study offers an emic perspective on the work of an understudied segment of the agricultural workforce. The findings have implications for improving work practices and policies aimed at attracting and retaining this important labor source in the future