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Item Regional unemployment in Queensland: Dimensions and policy issues(National Institute of Labour Studies, 2001) McGuire, PThe problems of regional decline and regional unemployment have taken on a particular importance in Queensland in recent years. However, it is clear that the two issues are separate and require different policy solutions. While many regional communities have experienced declining population and employment, they have generally maintained low unemployment rates. By contrast, many of the regions with the highest unemployment rates have experienced very fast population and employment growth. Analysis suggests that population tends to adjust quite quickly to declining employment opportunities through migration. Ironically, however, such migration flows tend to increase unemployment rate differentials between regions, as people move from low unemployment/ low employment growth regions to high unemployment/ high employment growth regions. Industry structure, structural change and educational attainment are also relevant to regional unemployment, but the linkages are complex and appear to differ between regions.Item Women, superannuation and the SGC(National Institute of Labour Studies, 2001) Preston, A; Austen, SSuperannuation is the Commonwealth Government’s preferred system for the provision of income in retirement. By definition, occupational superannuation benefits those with a strong attachment to the workforce. Employment in a part-time capacity and/or a low-paid, low status occupation places a significant constraint on the capacity of individuals to accumulate private retirement savings. The policy shift towards this form of retirement income system thus has particular adverse consequences for women. Using micro-simulations this paper estimates the final lump-sums that women with a range of different work and other characteristics could expect to achieve. Adequacy assessments suggest that, even under a fully-matured Superannuation Guarantee Charge system, a typical woman will remain heavily dependent on the age pension in retirement. The results highlight the need for greater public debate over government policy with respect to the whole retirement income system, rather than a narrow focus on superannuation.Item The rise of intangible capital and labour market segmentation(National Institute of Labour Studies, 2001) Webster, ELabour is becoming an important asset vis-à-vis physical capital as the asset structures of firms change over time. The peculiarities of labour assets are that they appreciate with usage rather than depreciate. In contrast with physical capital, over-use leads to an increase in their value and under-use leads to an erosion. The more able or those considered to have the most potential are generally recruited to the asset sector of the labour market where positive work experiences are reinforcing while the less able or those considered to have less potential are excluded. Accordingly, the work experiences and skills of the labour force becomes more polarised.Item The September 11 shock to tourism and the Australian economy from 2001-02 to 2003-04(National Institute of Labour Studies, 2001) Adams, Philip D; Dixon, Peter BN/A