Friday, October 31, 2008

[IWS] ILO Bangkok: PACIFIC ISLANDS--LABOUR MARKET SCENARIOS [June 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________


ILO Bangkok
ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series


Labour market scenarios for the Asian Decent Work Decade in the Pacific Island countries
by Ron Duncan and Carmen Voigt-Graf
Bangkok: ILO, 2008
iv, 32 p.
ISBN 9789221213390 (web pdf)
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/library/download/wp08-02.pdf
[full-text, 47 pages]

This paper presents the key trends in the economies and labour markets of Pacific island
countries that are ILO Member Countries and the main issues facing policy makers in promoting
decent and productive employment in these economies. It presents past trends and projections in
population growth and in working-age cohorts, in formal employment, in the labour force and
labour force participation rates, and in national income, and identifies the economic activities that
are most likely to provide growth in formal employment in the countries. It also looks at the role
being played by migration and overseas employment of Pacific islanders. The paper examines the
factors that could most inhibit development of formal labour markets and decent and productive
employment during the Asian Decent Work Decade and the role that the ILO could play in
helping to overcome these obstacles together with other agencies working in the Pacific region.
As the development of appropriate and effective policies will require a solid understanding of
current labour market issues and trends, the paper also identifies the key gaps in statistical
information on the labour market in the Pacific and how the ILO may assist in filling these gaps.
Some key findings in the paper include:

1. Population growth rates are high (above 2 per cent) in the Pacific ILO Member
Countries except in those countries that have easy exit to high-income countries. A result
of the rapid population growth is a large and growing 'youth bulge' in many of the
Pacific countries. Because of the low levels of investment and job creation, the economic
benefits of the youth bulge that were realized in the high economic growth countries of
East Asia are significantly less likely to be realized in the Pacific countries. Moreover, this
youth bulge will ensure that rapid population growth continues for a considerable time.

2. Using population and formal employment projections, estimates have been made of the
potential excess supply of labour in some of the Pacific countries. The projected large
increases in labour are unlikely to be absorbed in the formal labour market in the
Melanesian countries (except Fiji, which has a more moderate increase) and in the
Republic of Marshall Islands, which is a cause for concern.

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] ILO Bangkok: BANGLADESH GENDER WAGE GAP [May 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

ILO Asia-Pacific Working Paper Series


The gender wage gap in Bangladesh
by Steven Kapsos
Bangkok: ILO, 2008
iii, 29 p.
ISBN 9789221213376 (web pdf)
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/library/download/wp08-01.pdf
[full-text, 43 pages]

Abstract
This study utilizes the 2007 Bangladesh Occupational Wage Dataset to investigate determinants
of earnings and to estimate gender wage differentials in a large sample of non-agricultural
workers in the country. The Mincerian regression model and Blinder-Oaxaca wage
decomposition model are utilized to estimate and decompose the observed gender earnings gaps
into the portion that can be explained by differences between women and men in their
productive endowments (in factors such as education) and the portion that is unexplained, owing
to differences in returns to these productive factors and due to other unknown effects. The
paper presents the first estimates of hourly gender wage gaps by industry, level of education and
establishment size that control for other characteristics of workers in Bangladesh and the first
quantitative estimates of the effects of industrial and occupational segregation on average wage
rates for women and men in the country. It also provides a thorough decomposition of industrylevel
gender wage gaps into explained and unexplained components, which sheds light on the
potential role played by gender-based discrimination in wage setting in different industries in
Bangladesh.

The study finds that women earn an average of 21 per cent less per hour than men. Controlling
for differences in age, educational background, industry, occupation and geographic location,
yields an estimated gender wage gap of 15.9 per cent, but including the effects of industrial and
occupational segregation into the estimate yields an estimated wage gap of 23.1 per cent.
Industrial segregation increases the overall wage gap by an estimated 7 percentage points.
Gender gaps are observed in every industry, across all levels of education and in every
establishment size class, with the largest gaps observed in the hotels & restaurants and
construction industries, among workers with primary education or less, and in mid-sized
establishments. Gender-based occupational segregation increases the gender wage gap in the
construction, financial intermediation and manufacturing industries, but mitigates it in the
education, hotels & restaurants and other services industries. The results make clear that
increased education has an important role to play to lower the gender wage gap in Bangladesh:
the largest gender gap is observed among illiterate workers and the second largest gap is observed
among literate workers with less than a primary school education.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] ILO Bangkok: LABOUR & SOCIAL TRENDS in ASEAN 2008: Driving Competitiveness and Prosperity with Decent Work [20 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

ILO Bangkok

Labour and Social Trends in ASEAN 2008: Driving Competitiveness and Prosperity with Decent Work  [20 October 2008]
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/library/download/pub08-36.pdf
[full-text,  124 pages]

Press Release
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/public/releases/yr2008/pr08_31.htm

Key Findings
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/download/yr2008/asean.pdf

A new ILO report on competitiveness, productivity and employment trends in the 10 ASEAN member countries says that sustaining economic growth and competitiveness in these economies will depend increasingly on the quality of their workforces and good human resources management. The report "Labour and Social Trends in ASEAN 2008: Driving Competitiveness and Prosperity with Decent Work" , also makes predictions for unemployment in the light of the current financial crisis and offers some recommendations.

List of Tables
2.1 GDP growth (2006­2008) and employment growth (2006­2007) in selected ASEAN Member Countries .... 12
2.2 Employment growth by sector (2006­2007) and employment by sector (2007) in ASEAN ... 13
2.3 Unemployment and youth unemployment in selected ASEAN Member Countries (2006­2007) ........ 15
2.4 Consumer price inflation, selected ASEAN Member Countries, 2006­2008 (%) ....... 17
2.5 Employment, productivity and unemployment scenarios, 2007, 2008 and 2009 ...... 21
3.1 Net FDI per capita flows (2005­2007) and competitiveness rankings (2006­2007 and 2007­2008), selected economies ......... 26
3.2 Output per worker (1997, 2002, 2006­2007), and growth in output per worker and employment (1997­2002, 2002­2007), selected economies ........................... 31
4.1 Growth in employment by sector, 2000-2006 ........................................ 37
4.2 Sector labour productivity (constant 2000 US$ and average annual growth), and contribution from sector employment shift, 2000-2006 .............................. 38
4.3 Gross capital formation per worker, 2000-2006 ...................................... 42
4.4 Contribution of SMEs to value added, employment and export production, most recent years (%) ......... 44
5.1 Competitiveness rankings, output per worker, school life expectancy and adult literacy rates in ASEAN, most recent year .... 51
5.2 Key education indicators, selected ASEAN Member Countries, most recent year (%) ............ 52
5.3 Mean PISA scores, 2006 ...................................................................... 55
5.4 Occupations with greatest difficulties in hiring suitable candidates (%) ................ 59
5.5 Main reason for difficulties in hiring suitable candidates (%) ............................ 60
5.6 Hiring difficulties and unfilled vacancies (%) .............................................. 60
5.7 Average monthly earnings and growth rates, selected groups of workers, 2007 ...................... 61
5.8 Most critical factors for recruiting top talent, 2007 (%) .................................... 62
6.1 Share of enterprises employing foreign workers (in Box 6.1) ..................................................... 69
6.2 Share of enterprises employing foreign workers, by ownership (in Box 6.1) ........................... 69
6.3 Share of enterprises with revenue growth and those with increased investment in automation, by employment of foreign workers (in Box 6.1) ...................... 69
7.1 Population aged 25­54, total and % of total population, 2007 and 2015 ................................. 77
7.2 Historical and projected growth in GDP and labour productivity, 2000­2007 and 2007­2015 .................................................. 79


______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] GREEN JOBS IN THE U.S. ECONOMY [October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
Prepared by Global Insight

U.S. Metro Economies: Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S. Economy [October 2008]
http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/GreenJobsReport.pdf
[full-text, 41 pages]

[excerpt]
Current Green Jobs
To construct a count of Green Jobs in the United States we have identified to the finest precision possible the number of workers employed in green activities. We define these as: any activity that generates electricity using renewable or nuclear fuels, agriculture jobs supplying corn or soy for transportation fuel, manufacturing jobs producing goods used in renewable power generation, equipment dealers and wholesalers specializing in renewable energy or energy-efficiency products, construction and installation of energy and pollution management systems, government administration of environmental programs, and supporting jobs in the engineering, legal, research and consulting fields. A full list of the chosen sectors is included in the Appendix.

GREEN JOBS BY MAJOR CATEGORY - U.S. TOTAL
Renewable Power Generation 127,246
Agriculture and Forestry 57,546
Construction & Systems Installation 8,741
Manufacturing 60,699
Equipment Dealers & Wholesalers 6,205
Engineering, Legal, Research & Consulting 418,715
Government Administration 71,900
Total 751,051


TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
OIL AND GAS CONSUMPTION .................................................................................................................................... 2
ELECTRICITY DEMAND .............................................................................................................................................. 3
A GREENER ECONOMY .............................................................................................................................................. 3
CURRENT GREEN JOBS ........................................................................................................................................ 5
U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS ­ GLOBAL INSIGHT GREEN JOBS INDEX .................................................................... 5
GREEN JOB POTENTIAL GROWTH .................................................................................................................... 6
RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION - STATUS AND POTENTIAL .................................................................................... 6
Wind Power .......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Solar Power .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Hydropower .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Geothermal Power ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Biomass Power ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
ENERGY EFFICIENCY ­ STATUS AND POTENTIAL ........................................................................................................ 9
Energy Efficiency Standards ................................................................................................................................. 9
Energy Efficiency Implementation ....................................................................................................................... 10
RENEWABLE TRANSPORTATION FUELS .................................................................................................................... 11
Transportation Sector Emissions ......................................................................................................................... 11
Renewable Fuels ................................................................................................................................................. 11
GREEN JOBS FORECAST .................................................................................................................................... 12
RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION ........................................................................................................................... 12
Scenario .............................................................................................................................................................. 12
Green Jobs Created ............................................................................................................................................ 13
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL RETROFITTING ..................................................................................................... 14
Scenario .............................................................................................................................................................. 14
Green Jobs Created ............................................................................................................................................ 14
RENEWABLE TRANSPORTATION FUELS .................................................................................................................... 15
Scenario .............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Green Jobs Created ............................................................................................................................................ 16
INDIRECT JOBS ........................................................................................................................................................ 16
FORECAST RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................ 17
CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................................... 18
APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................................................... 19

[Thanks to Sabrina Pacifici of Bespacific.com for the tip].

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


Thursday, October 30, 2008

[IWS] BLS: New! PROGRAM PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTH BENEFITS [29 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Program Perspectives on Health Benefits [29 October 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/opub/perspectives/home.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/opub/perspectives/issue1for11by17.pdf
[full-text, 2 pages]

"Program Perspectives on Health Benefits" (PDF) shows you trends in employer costs for health benefits. The latest data on access, participation, and premiums are also included. This is the inaugural issue of "Program Perspectives," a new publication in which BLS programs showcase their latest data.

Includes CHARTS & TABLES...

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


Wednesday, October 29, 2008

[IWS] RAND: ARAB REGION: HUMAN CAPITAL CHALLENGES 21st CENTURY--Education & Labor Market Initiatives in Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates [24 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

RAND

Facing Human Capital Challenges of the 21st Century: Education and Labor Market Initiatives in Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates - October 24, 2008
Gabriella Gonzalez, Lynn Karoly, Louay Constant, Hanine Salem, Charles Goldman
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG786/
or
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG786.pdf
[full-text, 333 pages]
or
Summary
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG786.sum.pdf

See also Research Brief - http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2008/RAND_RB9383.pdf

Countries in the Arab region are faced with the challenge of developing their populations' skills and technical knowledge, or human capital, in order to compete in the 21st century global economy. The authors describe the education and labor market initiatives implemented or under way in four countries in the Arab region ­ Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ­ to address the human resource issues they each face as they prepare their countries for a place in the 21st century global economy. Three of these countries ­ Oman, Qatar, and the UAE ­ are in the Arabian Gulf; the fourth, Lebanon, is in the Levant. Together, they highlight the similarities and dissimilarities of the challenges faced by countries in the region and the responses to those challenges. The study answers three main questions: What are the human resource challenges each country faces? What education, human capital, and labor market reforms have recently been implemented or are under way to address these challenges? What mechanisms and information are used to assess whether reforms are meeting their objectives, and is there evidence of success? Answers were sought through analysis of relevant literature, the most-recent population and labor force data from international and in-country sources, and a series of elite interviews in 2006 with government officials and individuals in private organizations in the four study countries. The authors found that while the study countries have instituted reforms to their education and training systems that are designed to raise the skills of the population, and have made changes to the labor market and economy aimed at facilitating the use of human capital in diverse sectors of the economy, a disconnect remains between implementing reforms and evaluating them to ascertain whether they are having the intended effects. In many cases, reforms have only recently gotten under way, so it may be too early to measure their impact. In other cases, however, the lack of systematic assessment stems from gaps in the data needed to track the effects of policy changes. If policy evaluation is made integral to reform, the countries in the Arab world will have the information they need to make the best investments in their human capital in the decades to come.

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

[IWS] EBRI: IMPACT of FINANCIAL CRISIS on WORKERS' RETIREMENT SECURITY -- ADDED STATEMENT [27 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)

Testimony for the House Education and Labor Committee
The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Workers� Retirement Security
Oct. 7, 2008
Additional Statement for the Record
[27 October 2008]
Jack VanDerhei
Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)
T-156
http://www.ebri.org/pdf/T-156_HS_Ed-Labor_27Oct08_ADDITIONAL.pdf
[full-text, 26 pages]

Earlier Testimony at
http://www.ebri.org/pdf/publications/testimony/t156.pdf
[full-text, 6 pages]

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] OECD: LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2009 [28 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Latin American Economic Outlook 2009 [28 October 2008]
http://www.oecd.org/document/5/0,3343,en_2649_33973_40692869_1_1_1_1,00.html
or
www.oecd.org/dev/publications/leo

Executive Summary
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/14/60/41577384.pdf
[full-text, 22 pages]

Press Release 28 October 2008
Latin America Needs Better Taxes and Better Spending
http://www.oecd.org/document/30/0,3343,en_2649_34487_41575838_1_1_1_1,00.html

[excerpt]
28/10/2008 - Fiscal policy, says the latest Latin American Economic Outlook (LEO 2009) from the OECD's Development Centre, can be a powerful tool for economic, political and social development in Latin America if taxes are raised efficiently and fairly and spending is directed to promoting growth and reducing poverty and inequality.

Fiscal policy ­ taxing and spending ­ is part of the political process and should contribute to the consolidation of democracy, the report says.  LEO 2009 argues that taxes and public spending can directly attack poverty and inequality, twin problems that continue to beset the region.

AND MUCH MORE...
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] Work Foundation (UK): PUBLIC VALUE: THE NEXT STEPS IN PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM [9 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Work Foundation (UK)

Public Value: The Next Steps in Public Service Reform [9 October 2008]
http://www.theworkfoundation.com/research/publications/publicationdetail.aspx?oItemId=201&parentPageID=102&PubType =
or
http://www.theworkfoundation.com/assets/docs/publications/201_PV_public_service_reform_final.pdf
[full-text, 65 pages]


Abstract
Public value argues that public services are distinctive because they are characterised by claims of rights by citizens to services that have been authorised and funded through some democratic process. Simply expressed, public value is the analogue of the desire to maximise shareholder value in the private sector.

Press Release 9 October 2008
Involving citizens and workers key to public service reform
http://www.theworkfoundation.com/pressmedia/news/newsarticle.aspx?oItemId=140


Contents
Executive summary 4
1. Introduction: The promise of public value 7
1.1 A brief review of public value theory 7
1.2 The 'delivery paradox' and the decline of public trust 9
1.3 The trajectory of public service reform 10
1.4 How does public value fit with other approaches to public management? 11
1.5 What is the 'promise' of public value? 13
2. What are public organisations for? Securing 'authorisation' for services 15
2.1 Public participation and public sector management 15
2.2 The challenges of public participation 20
2.3 Participation, governance and government 23
Summary and conclusions 27
3. Deploying resources and engaging staff effectively to deliver public value 29
3.1 Building public value into commissioning 29
3.2 Engaging the public in service delivery 37
3.3 How should public servants be managed to deliver public value? 43
Summary and conclusion 45
4. A public value approach to measurement 46
4.1 How is public value different? 48
4.2 Measurement in practice 52
4.3 The government's approach 54
Summary and conclusion 55
5. Conclusion 56
6. References 62

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] Mercer: EXPATRIATE EMPLOYEES DOUBLE as COMPANIES VALUE EXPATRIATE ASSIGNMENTS [27 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Mercer

Press Release 27 October 2008
Expatriate employee numbers double as companies see increased value in expatriate assignments
http://www.mercer.com/summary.htm?idContent=1326180


UK
London, 27 October 2008

   * Number of employees on international assignments increase by almost 90 percent over the last three years
   * Benefit provision to expatriates considered high priority but clear policies or monitoring is largely lacking
   * The proportion of companies with international retirement plans increase by close to 40 percent

The number of employees on international assignments has doubled over the last three years as part of the continuing trends towards globalisation, according to a survey conducted by Mercer.

Mercer's 2008/2009 Benefits Survey for Expatriates and Globally Mobile Employees is the largest of its kind and covers 243 multinational companies world-wide, including over 94,000 expatriates (compared to 50,000 in 2005/2006). Mercer conducts the survey every three years to provide an overview of expatriate policies in large multinational firms.

According to its report, 47 percent of companies surveyed said they had increased the deployment of traditional expatriates (employees on 1-5 year assignments) and 38 percent reported an increase in 'global nomads' (employees that continuously move from country to country on multiple assignments).

"The growth has been driven by companies' desire to be globally competitive. To successfully launch new ventures abroad and gain advantage over competitors, companies generally bring in their own experts from other locations to lead projects on a short term basis, rather than rely on local talent," said Robert Lockley, principal in Mercer's international business. "Increasingly these are corporate global nomads, seasoned professionals who move from project to project within the same multinational company. They bring solid experience in transferring knowledge, and a consistent approach."

Mr Lockley continued: "Multinationals highlight that international assignments are part of their global leadership development programmes. Gaining experience in various geographies is becoming an essential step on the career ladder of international firms."

Benefit policies

The majority of companies surveyed (86 percent) consider benefit provision for expatriate employees a medium or high business priority. However, 26 percent admit to having no overarching policy for providing expatriate benefits.

According to Mr Lockley: "Establishing an international policy is essential to stay competitive, maintain geographical consistency and control costs. Even against a backdrop of economic uncertainty there is still competition for the best talent. Companies that are lax in this area will lose out."

When asked to rate the success factors for their expatriate benefits scheme, survey participants ranked supporting the company's business and HR strategies the highest (63 percent). Being valued by employees and remaining cost effective were also deemed important factors (both 59 percent). However, the survey found that nearly two thirds of companies (64 percent) have no specific procedures in place to measure the success of their expatriate benefit programmes.

 "Creating and maintaining benefit plans for expatriates is an expensive and complicated endeavour. By failing to assess the value of these programmes to the company or the employees themselves, many organisations miss the opportunity to improve their benefit offering and sharpen their competitive edge," said Mr Lockley.

International retirement plans

The majority of companies surveyed keep their expatriates in host or home country retirement schemes. However, 32 percent of companies offer international plans* - an increase from 23 percent in 2005. Close to three-quarters (73 percent) of companies with an international plan restrict eligibility to certain expatriates who cannot be kept in the home or host plan.

"More expatriates are going on multiple assignments across several geographies. Over time it becomes difficult for companies to justify the link to the office in the expatriates' original home location when they have not worked there for many years. Also, swapping an employee from host scheme to host scheme is often an unattractive option," said Mr Lockley. "In other cases expatriates move to locations where retaining them in the home country pension scheme creates compliance and regulatory problems."

He continued; "In these circumstances, setting up an international scheme is often the most attractive option for multinational companies that want to provide pension benefits to their globally mobile employees."

Other benefits

The majority of respondents provide medical benefits for their expatriates, whether via international plans or via home- or host-country plans. However, more than 80 percent do not consider local social security provision when providing these benefits.

Mr Lockley said: "Multinational companies can achieve considerable cost savings by tailoring their medical plans to integrate with local social security provision. Although the data suggests few have yet to implement such plans, we see a growing number of clients actively exploring this approach."

The majority of respondents cover their expatriates for death benefits (86 percent) and long term disability benefits are provided by more than three quarters of participating companies (78 percent). North American companies are more likely to offer benefits at a cost to the employee, typically by way of deductibles or co-payments.

Notes for Editors

*International plan: A retirement plan exclusively for Globally Mobile Employees (e.g. an offshore plan financed via a trust or insurance contract in an offshore tax sheltered location).

Copies of < http://www.imercer.com/expatbenefits> Mercer's 2008/2009 Benefit Survey for Expatriates and Globally Mobile Employees cost EUR 900 and are available from > www.imercer.com/expatbenefits or client services (+48 22 434 5383)
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] EMCC: EUROPEAN RESTRUCTURING MONITOR QUARTLERLY - ISSUE 3, AUTUMN 2008 [22 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC)

European restructuring monitor quarterly - Issue 3, autumn 2008 [22 October 2008]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0893.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2008/93/en/1/EF0893EN.pdf
[full-text, 17 pages]

Author: Foundation
Summary: The commitment of hundreds of billions of euros and dollars by the public authorities to the banking systems in the major developed economies in September and early October 2008 has only partially stemmed the malaise in the global financial system. The third issue for 2008 includes: Current macroeconomic trends and prospects; an overview of ERM statistics for July-September 2008; restructuring in the German state-owned banking sector; case in focus: Renault (France); restructuring in Cyprus and Malta.
Pages: 17


CONTENTS
Summary
Current macroeconomic trends and prospects
Overview of ERM statistics July­September 2008
Restructuring in the German state-owned banking sector
Case in focus: Renault (France)
Restructuring in Cyprus and Malta
Note on methodology

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] BLS: INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON of ANNUAL LABOR FORCE STATISTICS, 10 COUNTRIES, 1960-2007 [21 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Division of Foreign Statistics

International Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics, 10 Countries, 1960-2007 [21 October 2008]
http://www.bls.gov/fls/flscomparelf.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/fls/lfcompendium.pdf
[full-text, 39 pages]


This document presents selected international labor force statistics
for 10 countries: the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and
6 European countries
.  The data are adjusted to approximate U.S.
concepts except for the data in table 3, which are published by the
originating country.

Contents
    * Technical Notes
    * Table 1: Civilian Working Age Population Approximating U.S. Concepts
    * Table 2: Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Approximating U.S. Concepts
    * Table 3: Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Published by Originating Country
    * Table 4: Civilian Labor Force Participation Rates Approximating U.S. Concepts by Sex
    * Table 5: Civilian Employment-Population Ratios Approximating U.S. Concepts by Sex
    * Table 6: Civilian Employment Approximating U.S. Concepts by Economic Sector
    * Table 7: Percent Distribution of Civilian Employment Approximating U.S. Concepts by Economic Sector
    * Table 8: Civilian Unemployment Rates Approximating U.S. Concepts by Sex
    * Table 9: Civilian Unemployment Rates Approximating U.S. Concepts by Age
    * Table 10: Percent of Women in the Civilian Labor Force

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


Monday, October 27, 2008

[IWS] 2nd Brazilian Conference of Employment & Labor Relations, 17-18 November 2008

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________


2nd Brazilian Conference of Employment and Labor Relations
http://www.ibret.org/2Congresso-english.html

Date: November 17 and 18, 2008
Venue: School of Economics, Management and Accounting of University of São Paulo - Congregation Room
University City, São Paulo

Conference Program:

Monday November 17, 2008 ­ Day 1

1:30 p.m. ­ 2:30 p.m.

Opening Session - Directors of IBRET
Keynote Conference: The practitioners of labor and employment relations and the rebuilding of the rules of coexistence between labor and management
Speaker: Bruce Kaufman, University of Georgia, U.S.A.

2:30 p.m. ­ 4:00 p.m.
Selected papers: A look at collective bargaining in Brazil: The years 1990, the turn of the century and the coming decades.
Coordinator: Lauro Moreto, SINDUSFARMA

4:00 p.m. ­ 4:30 p.m. ­ Coffee Break

4:30 p.m. ­ 6:00 p.m.
IBRET cases: The negotiation of the agreement on safety and health in the plastics industry.
Coordinator: Vilma Dias (Mackenzie Presbyterian University and Regional Department of Labor Superintendence - SRT / SP)

8:00 p.m. ­ Meeting Dinner

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Day 2

8:30 a.m. ­ 10:00 p.m.
Selected papers: Public policies for the labor market in Brazil.

10:00 a.m. ­ 10:30 a.m. ­ Coffee Break

10:30 a.m. ­ 12:00 a.m.
IBRET Cases: The structure of transnational bargaining at BASF: New frontiers for collective bargaining for international companies in Brazil.
Coordinator: Wilson Amorim (São Judas Tadeu University)

12:00 a.m. ­ 1:30 p.m. ­ Lunch

1:30 p.m. ­ 3:30 p.m.
Debate: The future of labor relations in Brazil: a comparative and international vision (the results of a EUROFOUND research). Presentation of Hélio Zylberstajn and discussions with trade unionists, businessmen and representatives of government

3:30 p.m. ­ 4:00 p.m. ­ Break

4:00 p.m. ­ 5:30 p.m.
Panel: John Dunlop and the 50 years of its "Industrial Relations Systems". Coordinator: Carlos Horn (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul) and participation of Manfred Weiss (University of Frankfurt)

5:30 p.m. ­ 6:00 p.m.
Closure: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (invitation under review by the President Secretariat)

6:00 p.m. ­ 7:00 p.m.
Assembly of members of IBRET (agenda available on the site www.ibret.org)

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] MPI: New Report! on SKILLED IMMIGRANTS' 'BRAIN WASTE' in the U.S. [22 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

Uneven Progress: The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants in the United States [22 October 2008]
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BrainWasteOct08.pdf
[full-text, 70 pages]

Press Release 22 October 2008
New Report on 'Brain Waste': 1 in 5 College-Educated Immigrants in U.S. Labor Market Stuck in Unskilled Jobs or Unemployed
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/2008_10_22.php

WASHINGTON ­ More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants living in the United States are unemployed or working as taxi drivers, dishwashers, security guards or in other unskilled jobs because they are unable to make full use of their academic and professional credentials, according to a new report issued today by the Migration Policy Institute.

The report, < http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BrainWasteOct08.pdf> Uneven Progress: The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants in the United States¸ for the first time quantifies the scope of the 'brain waste' problem that affects 22 percent of the 6.1 million immigrants with a bachelor's degree or higher who are in the U.S. labor market. The report analyzes and offers possible solutions for the credentialing and language-barrier hurdles that deprive the U.S. economy of a rich source of human capital at a time of increasing competition globally for skilled talent.

"While policymakers in Europe, Canada and elsewhere are focusing intently on attracting highly skilled immigrants, it is all the more necessary for the United States to fully leverage the talents of college-educated immigrants already living here ­ more than half of whom came with academic degrees earned abroad," said Michael Fix, MPI's senior vice president and co-author of the report. "It's vital for the U.S. economy and its productivity in an ever-more globalized world, as well as for the immigrants themselves."

Said report co-author Jeanne Batalova, an MPI policy analyst: "During a period of rising unemployment and economic difficulties, it's important to think ahead and make clear that allowing college-educated immigrants already in the United States to achieve greater career potential can increase U.S. productivity and competitiveness. Numerous studies have shown that highly skilled immigrants contribute to the economy through innovation and entrepreneurship, and pay more in taxes than they take out in services. Maximizing the use of their human capital can be an engine for job creation."

Among the report's findings:
   * Many highly skilled immigrants experience a sharp drop in occupational status upon first coming to the United States. How quickly they recover their status depends on a number of factors, including English skills, region of origin, place of education and length of time in this country.
   * Overall, college-educated immigrants from Africa and Latin America have less success in finding skilled jobs in the United States than do immigrants from Asia and Europe.
   * Highly skilled immigrants with U.S. college degrees or U.S. work experience prior to permanent settlement fared far better than their peers with foreign-obtained degrees or no U.S. work experience.
   * English language proficiency is critical to obtaining jobs commensurate with immigrants' competencies.

The report offers a number of policy suggestions to improve the professional outcomes for the highly skilled, including integrated language and workforce training; and the creation of a standing commission on labor markets that would recommend adjustments in visa levels and put the immigration system in sync with the economy.

In addition to offering a national snapshot, the report's authors examined skill underutilization on the state level by analyzing U.S. Census data for California, Illinois, Maryland and New York.
The report is available online at: www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/BrainWasteOct08.pdf
###

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 1
Key Findings 2
Policy Implications 2
Future Research Agenda 3
I. College-Educated Immigrants and Skill Waste: Introduction 5
The Issue 5
Goals and Organization of the Paper 7
II. Points of Departure 9
III. Skill Underutilization among Educated Immigrants:
Results from the American Community Survey 11
Immigrants in the Highly Skilled Workforce 12
Unemployment and Employment Patterns 13
Earnings 15
The Skill Levels of Jobs Held by Immigrants 15
Country Variations 18
Assessing the Impact of Language Proficiency 21
State-Level Findings on Skill Underutilization 21
IV. Occupational Trajectories of Highly Skilled Legal Permanent Residents:
Results from the New Immigrant Survey 25
"Quality of Job" Index 26
V. American Community Survey versus the New Immigrant Survey:
Telling Consistent Stories 31
VI. Conclusion 33
Integration Policies 33
Credentialing 33
Language and Workforce Training 35
Other Barriers 37
Universal Approach 38
Immigration Policy 39
Transitional Temporary-to-Permanent Visas 39
Immigration and Labor Markets 39
VII. Future Research Agenda 41
Appendix A. Occupational Titles by Required Skills, Education, and Training 43
Appendix B. Demographic and Social Characteristics of the Highly Skilled,
2005­2006 45
Appendix C. Demographic and Social Characteristics of Employed Highly Skilled
Workers in California, Illinois, Maryland, and New York, 2005­2006 47
Appendix D. State-Level Charts, 2005­2006 49
Appendix E. LPR Definitions 55
Appendix F.1. Selected Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics of
Foreign-Educated LPRs by Class of Admission, 2003 57
Appendix F.2. Selected Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics of
Foreign-Educated LPRs by Place of Birth, 2003 59
Works Cited 61
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


[IWS] New! EconomicRecovery.gov WEB SITE (U.S. Gov't) [24 October 2008]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

U.S. Government (Multi-agency Sponsorship)
U.S. Commerce Dept.

EconomicRecovery.gov
http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/EconomicNews/index.htm?er=true
or
www.EconomicRecovery.gov


EconomicRecovery.gov is a resource for the American people to find help to keep their homes, find jobs and protect their savings.

Includes the following and more:

Help for Americans

    * Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure
    * Securing Your Retirement
    * Consumer Protection Guide
    * Is My Account Fully Insured?
    * Eating Right when Money is Tight
    * Nutrition Assistance Programs

Help for Workers

    * Jobs and Opportunities in Your State
    * Work for the Federal Government
    * Information about Unemployment Insurance in Your State
    * One-Stop Career Center
    * Help for People with Disabilities

Help for Small Businesses and Financial Institutions

    * Helping Main Street: Loan Programs, Training and Mentoring to Meet Business Challenges
    * Contracting Opportunities for Minority Businesses
    * Grow Your Business Overseas
    * Strengthening America's Banking System
    * Protecting Investors
    * Helping Manufacturers Grow their Businesses and Stay Competitive
    * Farm Loan Programs

Press Release 24 October 2008
U.S. Labor Department economic resources on-line for workers
www.EconomicRecovery.gov is gateway for information and assistance
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20081540.htm

WASHINGTON ­ The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its participation in a one-stop Web tool offering a number of resources to assist those negatively impacted by the recent turmoil in the worldwide economy.

"We want to make information easily accessible and quickly available to American workers affected by the economic downturn," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "The new < http://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://www.economicrecovery.gov/&exitTitle=http://www.economicrecovery.gov/&fedpage=yes > www.EconomicRecovery.gov one-stop Web page gives workers easy access to Department of Labor resources including unemployment insurance, local job openings and retirement security information as well as help available at other government agencies."

Affected workers and employers are encouraged to visit the federal government's Economic Recovery Web site at < http://www.economicrecovery.gov/ > http://www.EconomicRecovery.gov. Useful information and links will assist Americans with questions about benefits, eligibility, locations of operating One-Stop Career Centers and career service centers, unemployment insurance information by state, and available assistance from other government departments and agencies.

Workers can call the department's toll-free number at 866-4-USA-DOL (487-2365) to obtain the latest information on where to file a claim and access temporary job information. Impacted workers can place their calls from anywhere and will be directed to sites near them that can take their claims.

# # #


______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
****************************************


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