A Qualitative Analysis of Social and Economic Factors in a ‘Sunbelt’ Labour Market
Richard B. Sappey and Denise K. Conroy
Working Paper No. 02/07
April 2007
About the Authors
- Richard B. Sappey
Institute of Land, Water and Society
Heffron Building
Charles Sturt University
Panorama Avenue
Bathurst NSW 2795
Australia - Phone +61 2 6338 4828
- Denise K. Conroy, BA. (Qld), M. Pub. Admin (Qld).
Faculty of Business
Queensland University of Technology
GPO Box 2434
Brisbane, QLD, 4001
Australia - Phone + 61 7 3864 2746
Charles Sturt University – Faculty of Business Working Paper Series
Managing Editor: Associate Professor Jayne Bisman, School of Accounting, Bathurst
Editors: Dr P. Mathews, School of Commerce, Wagga Wagga
Associate Professor M. O'Mullane, School of Business, Albury
Dr R. Tierney, School of Marketing and Management, Bathurst
Dr D Ardagh, School of Commerce, Wagga Wagga
Ms K Mather, School of Computing and Mathematics, Wagga Wagga
The Faculty of Business Working Paper Series is intended to provide staff and students with a means of communicating new and evolving ideas in order to encourage academic debate. Working papers, as the title suggests, should not necessarily be taken as completed works or final expressions of opinion. All working papers are subject to review prior to publication by one or more editors or referees familiar with the discipline area. Normally, working papers may be freely quoted and/or reproduced provided proper reference to the author and source is given. When a working paper is published on a restricted basis, notice of such restriction will appear on this page.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Background
- Methodology
- Findings and Analysis
- Conclusion
- List of References
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the principal dimensions of a particular type of local labour market (LLM) in Australia. Qualitative research explored the causality of the principal dimensions of this LLM. The labour market was characterised by relatively weak labour market outcomes, particularly high rates of unemployment and low labour force participation. Several demographic, social and economic causes were identified and tended to distinguish the labour market from other types of labour markets
The significance of this research for policy formulation stems from the popularity of such areas in Australia as destinations for residence, particularly from inter and intra-state internal migration. To the extent that this tendency continues, the challenge for those who formulate labour market policy is how to make provision for the productive use of such labour supply. This, in itself, assumes that such labour markets constitute a problem in need of a solution.