Equal Education

In this review of the Australian labour market for 2001 we examine the persistence of the unemployment problems in Australia. We then review four issues: a) the youth labour market, b) the position of older males in the Australian labour market, c) work-force access to long service leave, and d) the dominant OECD supply-side policy framework that is currently driving labour market policy in Australia. Overall, the jobs market continues to be sluggish, full-time jobs are scarce and official unemployment rates disguise the extent of labour under-utilisation in Australia.

A legal requirement for equal employment opportunity programmes in government agencies in the State of New South Wales, Australia was introduced in 1980. The article looks at the history and workings of this legislation.