Several recognised experts explore current labour market policy issues and present practical ideas on ways forward.
Policy making in the COVID-19 recession has thus far been all about health and macroeconomic support and stimulus. But once the recovery is sufficiently underway, policy making will need to turn from the general to the particular.
In this series of papers from labour market experts, we look at what those policies should be, with topics chosen with the ‘once recovery is underway’ time horizon in mind.
Authors:
Associate Professor Elizabeth Hill, The University of Sydney
Dr Peter Davidson, Adj Senior Lecturer, Social Policy Research Centre UNSW Sydney
Sonia Arakkal, Co-founder, Think Forward
Professor Jeff Borland, Truby Williams Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne; Board Member, CEDA
Gabriela D’Souza, Senior Economist, CEDA
Michael Keating AC
Andrew Stewart, John Bray Professor of Law, University of Adelaide
Policy making in the COVID-19 recession thus far has been all about health and macroeconomic support and stimulus. This has been necessary and entirely sensible – without the COVID-19 virus being brought and kept under control, economic activity will remain depressed.[1] At the same time, to alleviate the substantial negative impacts of the recession on households and business, and to promote macroeconomic recovery, large-scale and broad-based fiscal support has been essential.
Once recovery is sufficiently underway, however, policy making will need to turn from the general to the particular. When it comes to policies directed at the labour market, there are four main reasons for that change of focus:
The topics relating to labour market policy in this volume have been chosen with the ‘once recovery is underway’ time horizon in mind – and to address each of the four types of policy issues likely to arise.
In their articles, Elizabeth Hill, Peter Davidson and Sonia Arrakal describe the outlook and propose policy options for the groups who it seems will be most adversely affected by the COVID-19 recession: for women, for the long-term unemployed and for young people.
My article addresses the scope for job creation via wage subsidy/hiring credit programs, while Gabriela D’Souza reviews COVID-19's likely effect on immigration and the opportunities that may create for Australia.
Finally, articles by Michael Keating and Andrew Stewart examine two main areas of potential structural policy reform already under consideration by the Federal Government: reform to the training system and industrial relations reform.
The magnitude and complexity of the task faced by governments in the years ahead cannot be overstated. Having successfully scaled the policy-equivalent of Mt Everest – dealing with COVID-19 and its immediate economic impact – they must now, without any rest time at base camp, make another Everest-like ascent to address the vast array of second-order issues that will inevitably arise in the phase of economic recovery.
The contributions in this volume are written in the spirit of seeking to assist with that climb. Each provides motivation for the labour market policy issue that needs to be (or might be perceived to need to be) addressed and presents practical ideas on ways forward. CEDA is delighted to be able to offer these insights from set of recognised experts in their fields, each with extensive experience in the policy sphere.
Reducing gender inequality and boosting the economy: fiscal policy after COVID-19
Associate Professor Elizabeth Hill, The University of Sydney
The scramble for jobs: who will be employed when the music stops?
Dr Peter Davidson, Adj Senior Lecturer, Social Policy Research Centre UNSW Sydney
Why Australia needs a youth jobs guarantee
Sonia Arakkal, Co-founder, Think Forward
The use of hiring credit wage subsidy programs after COVID-19
Professor Jeff Borland | Truby Williams Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne; Board Member, CEDA
Immigration and COVID-19
Gabriela D’Souza, Senior Economist, CEDA
Skills and workforce development
Michael Keating AC
COVID-19 and the future of Australian industrial relations
Andrew Stewart, John Bray Professor of Law, University of Adelaide
CEDA Senior Economist, Gabriela D'Souza
CEDA Senior Economist, Gabriela D'Souza
CEDA continues to advocate for better settlement support for migrants, governance of the migration system, management of the interaction between the temporary and permanent migration systems, and changes to enable Australia to get the essential skills we need. This submission is focused on the narrower objective of informing the current review of the points test, while highlighting some important interactions between the points test and other aspects of the migration system.
Read more Workforce | Skills June 14, 2015CEDA's major research report for 2015 focuses on the jobs and skills developments needed for the future of work to ensure Australia's continued economic grow and diversification.
Read more Workforce | Skills October 30, 2009Professor Bruce Chapman, Tim Higgins and Lynette Lin of the ANU propose a solution for Australia to fund an extended period of paid parental leave.
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