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Introduction
Equality in the labor market implies similar opportunities for people to realize their needs for labor, professional retraining, career advancement, participation in management, and fair remuneration. Despite this, the work market in Australia is heterogeneous, which contributes to increased competition between young participants in social and labor relations and negatively affects the economic development indicators. Unequal labor relations in Austria are this study’s central topic of discussion. The subject is selected because of the need to identify the primary forms of imbalances in labor relations and analyze their consequences to propose possible solutions to the problem.
Intervention is needed to guarantee similar conditions and pay, stimulate corporations to improve their internal environment and efficiency and move society toward the path of reducing unemployment. Labor market inequality is a problem that has been on the agenda in Australia for many years, and only a root cause analysis can provide a qualitative basis for proposing measures that will promote equitable relations between labor relations subjects and a sustainable society.
The Issue of Labor Market Inequality and its Scope
The issue of inequality in Australia’s labor market has always been a burning issue. However, because of the damage of the pandemic, there has been a dramatic worsening that has led to a widening pay gap between women and men, the virtual exclusion of youngsters from the workforce, or their displacement from their jobs. These hardships can cause a possible labor crisis, which is now at a critical juncture. One of the leading problems is gender discrimination, which is characteristic of both the adult and the younger generation because men and women are paid differently for the same work regardless of age. It should be mentioned that young men are more likely to be hired than girls because of the prejudice that men learn and adapt faster with a lack of experience. Despite the existing legal instruments that prohibit discrimination, wage and employment gaps exist.
Moreover, it is noteworthy that the primary sources of statistics provided by the state indicate only the average value of total wages. Data regarding the level of profit received by men and women for the same work is not displayed. However, according to research and measurements of the Australian labor market, the pay gap is approximately 15 percent, and women earn $245 less than their male counterparts (Birch & Preston, 2020). It may be noted that these figures are lower than those of a few decades ago, but they are increasing compared to last year.
Furthermore, it is also necessary to mention that in addition to gender inequality, there are other gaps in employment of the younger generation compared to other groups. Employers are twice as likely to hire someone over 25 because of their work experience (Preston & Wright, 2019). The interview results may not be comprehensively considered, even if the younger applicant demonstrates skills at or above those of the older one. What is more, the scale of the issue can be regarded as nationwide, as the number of young people who have trouble accessing the work environment increases every year.
It suggests that the prejudices that contribute to their inability to work as effectively as older people can are firmly entrenched in society. Moreover, according to statistics, more than a quarter of young individuals cannot find a job after graduation. The primary reasons for this are many retirees who do not leave their jobs and employers unwilling to hire young people on their teams (Preston & Wright, 2019). Despite the obviousness of the crisis, it is rarely discussed in public and in the legal field, leading to a prolonged existence of inequality.
Different types of inequality suggest that youngsters in numerous countries are particularly vulnerable, especially since the COVID-19 crisis. If this problem persists, unemployment rates will increase steadily, leading to negative trends in the workplace as a whole. Inequality has detrimental consequences for the pace and sustainability of economic growth, leads to environmental degradation, slows efforts to reduce poverty, undermines social cohesion, and increases the risk of social unrest or political instability. It clarifies that labor market inequality is a severe issue of concern, requiring intervention and mechanisms to improve the future of work.
Recommendations
Addressing inequality requires unique approaches, and first of all, it concerns fiscal policy and progressive taxation. Further measures must provide the necessary resources to invest in empowering communities and individuals that lag behind overall growth in prosperity. Proper budgeting is the first possible valuable tool for combating inequality. While numerous countries recognize the need to empower younger groups of the population, governments can use social-responsive budgeting to structure spending and taxation (Costa et al., 2020). It will further the goal of promoting equality, with more significant opportunities for equal participation of youngsters in the labor force and, in turn, increase growth and stability. Social spending can have a determining role in reducing income inequality and its negative consequences in terms of different levels of opportunity and weakened social cohesion with the proper approach (Costa et al., 2020). For example, programs can help young people become productive members of society when they mature and reduce the employment gap between immature individuals and older ones.
Furthermore, reforms to the economy’s structure could further help reduce inequality by lowering adjustment costs, minimizing regional disparities, and training future workers for the growing number of jobs in green economy sectors. Active labor market policies can improve worker skills and reduce periods of unemployment. Such measures include employment assistance, training programs, and, in some cases, wage insurance. Facilitating worker mobility across firms, industries, and regions can minimize adjustment costs and facilitate rapid job recovery (Lee et al., 2020). This, in turn, can help address unequal access to employment for youngsters, and geographical policies and investments can complement existing social transfers.
Moreover, companies can be required to publish corporate social responsibility reports on specific indicators, including measures to achieve labor equality. It would allow the state and the organization to identify the most problematic areas and direct efforts to solve them. Moreover, such a measure will promote the employment of all categories and groups of the population, reducing the gap in statistical data. The public publication of reports can be the engine of constant discussion of the problem in the public space (Lee et al., 2020). It will lead to the fact that each organization will try to improve performance by creating working conditions for those people who need it most, such as youngsters. Education, information, and discussion will aid in generating awareness and promoting equality, a prerequisite for the effective functioning of the labor market.
Conclusion
High levels of inequality in practice indicate that millions of people cannot meet their needs or the requirements of their families, save for retirement, or rely on protection in case of illness. It signifies that access to labor market opportunities is unfairly divided between older and younger people. A young nation does not get access to desirable jobs because of prejudice and the prevalence of helping the older generations. Australia’s heterogeneous labor market results in enormous economic losses and increases the risk of social unrest and political instability. Therefore, implementing change, with equality as its foundation and goal, is a prerequisite for the development of any democratic country and its economic progress.
References
Birch, E., & Preston, A. (2020). The Australian labor market in 2019. Journal of Industrial Relations, 62(3), 341-364.
Costa Dias, M., Joyce, R., Postel Vinay, F., & Xu, X. (2020). The challenges for labor market policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fiscal Studies, 41(2), 371-382.
Lee, S., Schmidt-Klau, D., & Verick, S. (2020). The labor market impacts of COVID-19: A global perspective. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 63(1), 11-15.
Preston, A. C., & Wright, R. E. (2019). Understanding the gender gap in financial literacy: Evidence from Australia. Economic Record, 95, 1-29.
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