The GLA’s London Workforce Employment Series

This article describes the construction of the workforce employment data used by the Greater London Authority. It reproduces, in citable form and, for scholarly purposes, the report of the same name produced by the author for the Greater London Authority. This article describes the sources of this data and explains where they can be found. Workforce employment data is a vital resource for many cities, underpinning many city planning decisions Other important data about cities , such as estimates of its economic output, often depend on it. To build a reliable picture of London’s economy, it is essential to understand where its estimates of workforce employment come from, what information they provide and how reliable they are. The report explains what the term ‘workforce employment’ actually means, looks at the data sources that are used to obtain it, and discusses some of their limitations. Appendix A, compiled by Peter Urwin of the University of Westminster, contains a study the GLA commissioned from Westminster University which analyses discrepancies between the UK’s two main primary sources of employment data – the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI). Finally, it explains how GLA Economics selects and compiles its workforce employment series. Appendix B, compiled by Experian Business Studies, explains the statistical methods used to construct the data from the primary sources.Keywords: Labour Market; Minimum Wage; Living Wage

Are there changes in characteristics of UK higher education around the time of the 2006 Reforms (BIS research paper no. 14)

Analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data, 2002/3 to 2007/8 in response to the research question 'Are there any changes in the Characteristics of UK Higher Education around the time of the 2006 Reforms?' In analysing trends in student characteristics over the period between 2002 and 2007 the researchers identify areas where the 2006 reforms may have had an effect. It should be noted that the tables and charts presented in the report are descriptive

Education and Skills Mismatch in the Italian Graduate Labour Market

This paper focuses on education and skills mismatch amongst Italian graduates. Indicators for over and under-utilisation of education and under-utilisation of skills are included in a grouped data lognormal wage equation, allowing us to test a number of theories which could explain the effect of over-schooling on wages. We find little evidence to support assignment theory and also identify a relatively weak wage effect arising from educational mismatch associated with the formal requirements of a job, when compared to that associated with an employeeÕs perception of the job requirements. Our interpretation is that employers may be mis-specifying jobs as ÔgraduateÕ jobs in order to take advantage of an excess supply of graduates.over-education, skill under-utilisation, wages, on-the-job search

Cd-regulated gene expression in Datura innoxia

The effects of Cd on the expression of specific proteins and transcripts have been examined in Cd-resistant (Cd300) and Cd-sensitive cultures of Datura innoxia. 2D PAGE analysis of the soluble fraction of D. innoxia protein proved problematic. Proteins precipitated on the surface of lEF gels. This was overcome by loading the samples in the gel mixture prior to polymerisation. Polymerisation of gels containing protein extracted from Cd-exposed cells only occurred when PCs, Cd and other components were resolved from the proteins eluting in the void volume following fractionation by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G50). Two peptides, designated Cd-1 and Cd-2, were detected in the Cd300 cells only after exposure to Cd. Cd-1 and Cd-2 were also both detected following exposure of the Cd300 cells to 125 piM Cu or Zn, or HS (42 ˚C 4 h). Neither Cd-1 nor Cd-2 were observed in protein extracts from WDI cells exposed to 125 μM Cd for 8 h. Both Cd-1 and Cd-2 proved refractory to Edman degradation while the N-terminal 30 amino acids of a third, constitutively expressed protein, designated Protein-3, were determined using equivalent procedures. This protein showed sequence similarity to PR proteins. Although cleavage of Cd-1 and Cd-2 generated polypeptides which were not terminally blocked, no sequence information was obtained from these polypeptides, even following purification using standard techniques. Oligonucleotide primers designed from the amino acid sequence of Protein-3 were successfully used to amplify, from cDNA, a fragment which was cloned, sequenced and shown to encode the characterised protein. A longer fragment was also amplified from cDNA by RACE PGR. However, this product was not cloned. In order to identify cDNA sequences encoding Cd-1 and Cd-2 an expression cDNA library was prepared and antibodies raised against the two peptides. However, no antigenicity could be detected when antisera raised against Cd-1 or Cd-2, or the purified IgG fractions, were used to probe western blots. The XZAP cDNA (Cd-exposed) library was "differentially screened" in order to isolate clones corresponding to Cd-induced genes. This led to the isolation of two Cd- induced clones designated Cd-6 (949 bp) and Cd-8 (659 bp). Both clones hybridised to transcripts of approximately 900 bp. Transcripts were also detected in RNA samples extracted from D. innoxia exposed to HS (42 ˚C 4 h), however no transcripts were detected in WDI cells exposed to Cd. Southern blots revealed hybridisation to multiple bands, possibly indicating the presence of a gene family. A motif, C-C-X-C-C, found in the a-domain of metallothioneins, was identified in Cd-6. This may represent a putative metal binding site in Cd-6

Measuring the Returns to Lifelong Learning

This paper investigates the returns to lifelong learning, which is interpreted as the attainment of qualifications following entry into the labour market. For a number of reasons our analysis of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) represents an important addition to the existing evidence base. We allow for financial and non-financial returns to lifelong learning by using as dependent variables both (i) hourly earnings and (ii) CAMSIS score. A fixed effects specification counters the potential biases that arise from unobserved individual heterogeneity and the inclusion of lags allows estimation of how the returns to lifelong learning evolve over a ten year period after the qualification is obtained. We find evidence of earnings and occupation status returns using a broad categorisation of lifelong learning for both men and women, but more variability in returns when disaggregated NVQ-equivalent categories of qualification are considered. Our findings are broadly in line with existing evidence within the UK, which is mostly based on the analysis of cohort studies. 0f particular interest is the finding that returns to women materialise much sooner after the attainment of a qualification, than is the case for their male counterparts.Lifelong learning, earnings, social status

Reframing Resolution - Managing Conflict and Resolving Individual Employment Disputes in the Contemporary Workplace

The resolution of individual workplace conflict has assumed an increasingly important place in policy debates over contemporary work and employment. This is in part due to the decline in collective industrial action and the parallel rise in the volume of employment tribunal applications. It reflects a growing concern over the implications of individual employment disputes for those involved but has perhaps been driven by concerns over the cost of litigation and the perceived burden that this places on employers. Against this backdrop, an ESRC-funded seminar series, entitled ‘Reframing Resolution – Managing Conflict and Resolving Individual Employment Disputes in the Contemporary Workplace’, was held between October 2012 and September 2013. This comprised six seminars held at: University of Strathclyde; University of Central Lancashire; Swansea University; Queen’s University Belfast; IRRU, University of Warwick and University of Westminster. The series brought leading academic researchers, practitioners and policy-makers together to explore new empirical and conceptual developments, examine innovative practice and provide insights into key questions of public policy