Understanding the determinants of employment growth is important in light of the concentration of population and employment in urban centres. As economic activity concentrates, smaller urban centres, and rural areas and towns find themselves at a growing disadvantage. Yet not all small urban or rural towns share the same experience. Moreover, not all urban centres grow significantly. It is thus of academic interest to discover more precisely what the employment growth determinants are.<p>Another aspect of employment growth is the particular source of employment change. Employment growth is not single-dimensional, but it has four components (growth from firm births and business expansions; and decreases from firm deaths and business declines), each of which may have unique determinants. Thus, in investigating the determinants of employment change, it is important to recognize the businesses life cycle and test whether the key influences vary over that life cycle. <p>This study empirically estimates the determinants of employment growth and assesses their role and relative importance in a communitys job growth. The major determinants include industrial composition, human capital, spatial variables and policy variables. The study is carried out at two levels: sub-provincial and provincial and covers the years 1983-1999. Two econometric methods of estimation are applied, random effects and fixed effects. <p>An important finding is that there are significant differences among the four components of employment change. This implies that when we simply examine overall employment growth we are masking very different effects that the determinants of employment change have among the four components of job growth. At the community level industrial diversification assists the growth of expanding firms and boosts employment due to the establishment of new businesses. On the other side, communities that have high industrial concentration experience lower employment losses from declining and exiting firms. Regions with a higher share of population that has received some post secondary education have, ceteris paribus, higher job growth rates. Another finding is that the farther away a community is situated from a large Census Metropolitan Area, the less employment growth it has. These results offer significant refinements to undifferentiated employment change findings.

Understanding the determinants of employment growth is important in light of the concentration of population and employment in urban centres. As economic activity concentrates, smaller urban centres, and rural areas and towns find themselves at a growing disadvantage. Yet not all small urban or rural towns share the same experience. Moreover, not all urban centres grow significantly. It is thus of academic interest to discover more precisely what the employment growth determinants are.<p>Another aspect of employment growth is the particular source of employment change. Employment growth is not single-dimensional, but it has four components (growth from firm births and business expansions; and decreases from firm deaths and business declines), each of which may have unique determinants. Thus, in investigating the determinants of employment change, it is important to recognize the businesses life cycle and test whether the key influences vary over that life cycle. <p>This study empirically estimates the determinants of employment growth and assesses their role and relative importance in a communitys job growth. The major determinants include industrial composition, human capital, spatial variables and policy variables. The study is carried out at two levels: sub-provincial and provincial and covers the years 1983-1999. Two econometric methods of estimation are applied, random effects and fixed effects. <p>An important finding is that there are significant differences among the four components of employment change. This implies that when we simply examine overall employment growth we are masking very different effects that the determinants of employment change have among the four components of job growth. At the community level industrial diversification assists the growth of expanding firms and boosts employment due to the establishment of new businesses. On the other side, communities that have high industrial concentration experience lower employment losses from declining and exiting firms. Regions with a higher share of population that has received some post secondary education have, ceteris paribus, higher job growth rates. Another finding is that the farther away a community is situated from a large Census Metropolitan Area, the less employment growth it has. These results offer significant refinements to undifferentiated employment change findings.

Thesis (M. Sc.)(Construction Economics)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

In South Africa there is high unemployment rates and poverty amongst a large part of the population. Entrepreneurship is identified by National Government and various research programs such as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) as a possible solution to the above socio-economic problems hampering economic growth of a developing region. It is however very difficult to start and grow a business that can last over time. This research report investigates the major problems associated with business sustainability of SMMEs and provides strategies for businesses to stay operational over time. The main aim of the study is to establish determinants of sustainability and reasons for success of SMMEs, based on a sample of small companies in Lesedi, Gauteng. Suggestions are made based on their unique experiences. The empirical study was conducted by means of a field study using a structured questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by the Cronbach alpha coefficient of the constructs. Data from 52 SMMEs were collected and analysed. The results indicate that most SMMEs in Lesedi are struggling to make profit and are generally unsustainable by measuring up the results against elements identified within the literature review. A total of 100 businesses restricted to Lesedi municipality in Gauteng were visited in the process of collecting the peer-aided questionnaires. The biggest problems of SMMEs in the sample were: gross profit control, marketing, strategic management, inventory control, information management, staff development, expense control, sourcing funds, time management and financial management. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

In South Africa there is high unemployment rates and poverty amongst a large part of the population. Entrepreneurship is identified by National Government and various research programs such as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) as a possible solution to the above socio-economic problems hampering economic growth of a developing region. It is however very difficult to start and grow a business that can last over time. This research report investigates the major problems associated with business sustainability of SMMEs and provides strategies for businesses to stay operational over time. The main aim of the study is to establish determinants of sustainability and reasons for success of SMMEs, based on a sample of small companies in Lesedi, Gauteng. Suggestions are made based on their unique experiences. The empirical study was conducted by means of a field study using a structured questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by the Cronbach alpha coefficient of the constructs. Data from 52 SMMEs were collected and analysed. The results indicate that most SMMEs in Lesedi are struggling to make profit and are generally unsustainable by measuring up the results against elements identified within the literature review. A total of 100 businesses restricted to Lesedi municipality in Gauteng were visited in the process of collecting the peer-aided questionnaires. The biggest problems of SMMEs in the sample were: gross profit control, marketing, strategic management, inventory control, information management, staff development, expense control, sourcing funds, time management and financial management. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis explores the behaviour of job flows in Taiwan. The investigation of the behaviour of job creation and destruction has improved our understanding of the dynamics of the Taiwanese labour market and also has important implications in terms of economic research and policymaking. Chapter 2 discusses the basic features of the overall post-war Taiwanese economy. We find that large flows of workers enter and exit the employment pool. The large worker flows offer an interesting insight about the job flow dynamics. Based on the measures proposed in Chapter 3, Chapter 4 carefully examines the so-called small business job creation hypothesis. We find that small business can be viewed as the engine of job creation. However, small business is not the source of sustained increases in employment. Chapter 5 documents the basic features of job creation and destruction. We find that job creation is more volatile than job destruction in the manufacturing and service sectors, but reveals the opposite pattern in the construction sector. Based on the methodologies outlined in Chapter 6, Chapter 7 investigates the regime switching and asymmetric behaviour of job creation and destruction. We find that the interest rate can help to explain the asymmetric behaviour of job creation and destruction rates in all sectors. Furthermore, we find an interesting feature that a lower interest rate stimulated beneficial regime shifts in job flows. Chapter 8 explores the similarities and differences of regional business cycles by reference to the employment growth rate as well as job creation and destruction rates. We find that the regime switching behaviour of employment growth was similar across the North, Central and South regions. However, behaviour in the East Region was dramatically different. Furthermore, the regime switching behaviour of the common regional business cycle (specified in terms of employment growth) is consistent with the business cycle indicator proposed by Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2002. / Title from title screen (viewed 16 April 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies, Faculty of Economics and Business. Degree awarded 2002; thesis submitted 2001. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Minnesota, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-84).

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. / The purpose of this paper is to describe poverty reduction, the essentiality of labour, and entrepreneurship as a way of creating opportunities, the need for labour law in the workplace, while referring to some of the constraints it may place on employers, labour practices and finding a win-win solution for all three players within the labour relationship to the benefit of the greater economy as a whole. Tackling unemployment is arguably South Africa's most important priority, while realising that the country will only attract investment in labour-absorptive sectors if it is competitive in terms of labour unit costs. Government has committed it to an employment strategy framework, while at the same time challenging business and labour to participate. There is a need for capable individuals who are prepared to accept the brunt of risk, to assist in job creation and assist in positive growth in the economy. We are part of a capitalistic SOCiety. Entrepreneurship offers the total solution. It places no risk on government or the employee, while having the ability to assist in the creation of jobs and with the alleviation of poverty. Entrepreneurship needs to be positively influenced and encouraged so as to fill the void emanating from high unemployment, and help the economy further. Potential entrepreneurs find themselves lost in a maze of legalities and tax laws, coupled with the unavailability of capital and heavy taxes on any positive returns, creating a barrier to entry for entrepreneurs. Labour is a very real necessity in the need for progress and actual implementation of opportunities. The essence of labour laws is to ensure no exploitation of workers, create fair working conditions and reward for the worker. South Africa has a very turbulent labour history. The characteristics of the labour market are commitment to the social contract; removal of obstacles in the way of international trade and production; reduction in unemployment. There are three players in the labour market, being employers, employees and government, who all have to contribute their shares before successful production can take place.