Labour shortages – turning away from bad jobs

Policy recommendations

Rising labour shortages reflect structural shifts, including the digital and green transitions, as well as a cyclical component in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The policy debate tends to focus on the need for skills and, where they are deemed to be missing, on bringing in those skills through immigration and mobility. Most discussions ignore the role of job quality, even though labour shortages have increased most and are worst in jobs with lower wages and worse conditions.
Tight labour markets can provide workers with opportunities, to some extent making up for the slow erosion of workers’ bargaining power over time. Indeed, this can lead to higher wages, better conditions and higher equality of wages overall.
It is now necessary to support workers and sectors in improving conditions. This can be done by embracing higher minimum standards on wages and quality of work. This aspect should not be neglected.

Labour shortages – turning away from bad jobs - European Economic, Employment and Social Policy, 2023 DOWNLOAD

Corporate Human Rights Benchmark – 2018 Key Findings

Publications

The 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assesses 101 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world on a set of human rights indicators. The companies from 3 industries - Agricultural Products, Apparel, and Extractives - were chosen for the ...Read More

TAGS: Due Diligence Agriculture, Horticulture & Landscaping Garments & Textiles Extractives & Mining Global

Addressing Workers’ Rights in the Engineering and Construction Sector: Opportunities for Collaboration

Publications

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TAGS: Auditing & QSA Reporting Construction & Security Services Manufacturing Global

Global Solidarity with Communities, Indigenous Peoples and Workers at Risk from Mining Pandemic Profiteers

COVID-19 resourcesPublications

The mining industry is one of the most polluting, deadly, and destructive industries in the world. Yet to date, mining company responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have received little scrutiny compared to other industries seeking to profit from this ...Read More

TAGS: Extractives & Mining Global

2016 National Hotline Annual Report

Publications

The following information is based on incoming communication to the National Human Trafficking Hotline from January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 about human trafficking cases and issues related to human trafficking in the United States and U.S. ter...Read More

TAGS: North America