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With the ageing population in Sweden and the need for more working hours among older workers as background, this essay analyses labour demand for older workers. More precisely it tries to find a connection in employer perceptions of certain character traits for older contra younger workers and the propensity to hire older workers. Using a newly conducted survey sent out to Swedish establishments, this study finds two character traits where negative perceptions have an extra negative effect on hiring: creativity and endurance. Unfortunately, there is a presence of low t-statistics throughout the results which calls for further research on the subject. As a secondary objective, this study also briefly looks at the previously unexplored subject of how the age of an establishment affects labour demand. Results for this points to a small effect but in these results, there are also cases of low statistical significance.

The general objective of this study is to identify skills required by employers relevant to the agricultural sector especially in cash crop rice farming and to explore how to increase the contribution of new entrants to the labour market leading to increased production, socio-economic development and the reduction of income-poverty in Tanzania. Productivity gains in the agriculture sector have been modest and have had a limited effect on economic growth in Tanzania. Although the country has considerable agricultural potential, making the most of this depends on the availability of a labour force that has the skills to support a shift to greater productivity. This study profiles, analyses and examines the reality of skills provision and the emerging opportunities to find out how skills development and employability should be improved. The research questions focus on (i) identifying the existing skills gaps between employers' needs and employees' capabilities; (ii) identifying the skills which TVET programs impart to enhance performance in the agriculture subsector; and (iii) identifying the skills required by employers and analysing the employability of TVET graduates entering work in the agricultural sector, especially for paddy production. The study concludes by outlining policy implications for improving TVET programs for workforce development. Among the key research findings was the identification of the high degree of irrelevance of most TVET courses for the targeted labour market as overall 89 % of employers claim that the skills possessed by graduates were not applicable to their intended jobs. Moreover, there is a gap in perception between employers and employees about the value of their training. Serious concerns need to be addressed. This can be done by creating an effective system of knowledge dissemination and training building on the current cascade training system involving both the TVET institutions and the visitation of extension workers in the field responsible for enhancing the transfer of modern farming practices. Findings also indicate that very few TVET graduates who enter the agriculture sector have actually studied agriculture, and only seven percent out of the entire TVET graduating cohort have studied the agricultural track. These research findings, drawn largely from a case study analysis as well as analysis of secondary sources, were formed during my professional experience working in the TVET sub-sector in Tanzania. The findings lead to the conclusion that the nature and structure of the curriculum as well as the teaching methodology mean the skills of the TVET graduates are inadequate to meet the demand from the labour market, especially in the paddy production sector. In addition, the study findings lead to a number of critical policy options to reduce skills gaps by refining the curriculum and pedagogy to ensure it is more demand driven and by ensuring that a mechanism is created linking supply and demand. Critical policy options include the need for a clearer and more systemic occupational analysis of the skills needed in paddy production -- such as the analysis provided in the Developing A Curriculum (DACUM) approach in order to ensure that the TVET curriculum is in alignment with the demanded occupational skills. To enhance the scientific and technological foundation of TVET, a strong focus will be required on high-order literacy and numeracy skills. The study also suggests that to establish a “knock-on effect”, youth who obtain skills from TVET institutions also need to be provided with appropriate leadership training during their TVET programs in preparation for disseminating knowledge and skills to other farmers in the field and leading change in agricultural practice. The training system needs to be more closely linked with employers and work places where knowledge and skill can be utilised.

Existing research (Guarnizo et al. 2003; Portes, 2001; Cohen and Sirkeci, 2005) has endeavoured to clarify the relationship between migrants' transnational activities and their integration into the host society. Although there are both positive and negative perspectives on this relationship, it remains unclear whether migrants' transnational activities are likely to help or hinder their integration into the host society (Vertovec, 2009). This thesis uses the lens of social capital and diaspora identity to shed light on the relationship between Indonesian migrants' transnational activities and their integration in a multi-ethnic town in South Korea. The influx of migrants from various countries has led to the creation of what is called ‘Borderless Village', where people have opportunities to build intercultural connections beyond their national group. Based on ethnographic fieldwork with a group of Indonesian migrants, which themselves show social disjunctions in terms of region of origin, language, religious belief and cultural practices, this thesis examines the integration patterns of Indonesian immigrant groups in this town. In terms of whether transnational activities help or hinder integration in South Korea, I argue that both realities co-exist, and that the status of Wongok-Dong as a migrant enclave and the internally divided nature of the Indonesian migrant group itself are key factors in this regard. Indonesian migrants achieve integration among themselves by performing economic and socio-cultural transnational activities, thereby transcending divisions within the group. Although there are differences in terms of their capacity to conduct transnational activities that are shaped by each Indonesian immigrants' different types of social capital, they are able perform transnational activities through creating and utilising ‘hidden social capital'. This is generated when Indonesian migrants strategically reveal one of their identities, such as Indonesian, Muslim or other positions, rather than emphasising their regional origin in Indonesia to achieve their objectives such as pursuing economic profits, saving face and maintaining livelihood. Through mobilising these additional identities, most Indonesians can access resources that enable them to perform transnational activities – making international phone calls, occupying cultural spaces, participating in national celebrations – beyond their regional affiliations. In this regard, Indonesian migrants integrate into Wongok-Dong by performing transnational activities due to the features of the town as a migrant enclave. However, they are isolated from mainstream Korean society, as they only achieve integration into the multiethnic space of Wongok-Dong. Thus, this research adds crucial dimensions to theories of the relationship between migrants' transnational activities and integration into their host society through redefining both the features of the diaspora group and the role of social capital.

Magistro darbe išanalizuotas darbo pasiūlos ir paklausos suderinamumas darbo rinkoje statybos sektoriaus pavyzdžiu. Pirmoje dalyje analizuojama teoriniai darbo rinkos, darbo bei darbo jėgos sampratos aspektai. Pateikti darbo pasiūlos ir paklausos bei pusiausvyros modeliai, juos įtakojantys veiksniai. Kartu analizuojamos valstybinės darbo rinkos reguliavimo priemonės bei vykdomos politikos kryptys Lietuvoje. Antroje dalyje nagrinėjami rodikliai apibūdinantys dabartinę esamą padėtį darbo rinkoje. Sudaryti darbo pasiūlą ir paklausą (statybų sektoriuje) įtakojančių veiksnių modeliai, kurie leido objektyviai įvertinti darbo pasiūlą ir paklausą šiame sektoriuje. Trečioje dalyje sukonkretinama iki darbo pasiūlos ir paklausos pusiausvyros atitikimo arba suderinamumo numatymo galimybių statybų sektoriuje. Nagrinėjama ar suformuluota darbo autorių mokslinio tyrimo hipotezė pasitvirtina. / In the Master’s Paper we analyse labour demand and supply compatibility in the labour market based upon building sector’s example. In the first part we analyse theoretical aspects of labour market, labour and manpower concepts. We present labour supply and demand as well as equilibrium models and the factors, influencing them. Also we analyse the labour market regulation measures applied by the state as well as the directions of politics taken in Lithuania. In the second part we analyse the indices defining current situation in the labour market. We have made patterns of the factors influencing demand and supply in the building sector, which are used to assess objectively the labour supply and demand in the sector. In the third part we concretize down to prediction possibilities of labour supply and demand equilibrium conformity or compatibility in the building sector. We analyze whether the hypothesis formulated by the authors is verified.

Darbo rinka, sudedamoji rinkos ekonomikos dalis, be savo pagrindinės funkcijos – darbo jėgos paskirstymo tarp ekonominių veiklų, profesijų, teritorijų, įmonių – atlieka dar dvi socialines ekonomines funkcijas: paskirsto gyventojų pajamas darbo užmokesčio forma ir tokiu būdu skatina užimtumą, bei visiems formaliai sudaro vienodas galimybes pasinaudoti teise į darbą ir profesinį tobulėjimą. Teorinėje problemos analizėje nagrinėjami darbo rinkos bei pagrindinių jos elementų sąvokos, darbo rinkos teorijos, darbo rinką veikiantys veiksniai, bei lankstaus ir saugaus užimtumo įgyvendinimo principai šiuolaikinėje visuomenėje. Tyrimo dalyje analizuojami pagrindiniai Lietuvos darbo rinkos pokyčiai 2001 – 2007 metų laikotarpyje, išryškinant pagrindinius darbo rinkos lankstumą apibūdinančius rodiklius, bei palyginant juos su Europos Sąjungos šalimis. Taip pat vertinama, kokie ekonominiai, socialiniai, bei demografiniai pokyčiai labiausiai įtakoja Lietuvos darbo rinką, ir atlikus šių rodiklių prognozę, aptariama galima optimistinė, realistinė , bei pesimistinė darbo rinkos procesų raida Lietuvoje. / Labour market, as a component of market economy, without its main function- distribution of labour force among economic activities, professions, territories, enterprises- also performs two more socioeconomic functions: it distributes the income of people in a form of labour pay and in this way it promotes employment and formally makes equal possibilities for everyone to use the right to labour and professional perfection. Concepts of labour market and its main elements, labour market theories, factors affecting labour market and principles of implementation of flexible and secure employment in modern society will be examined in theoretical part of the thesis. Major changes in Lithuanian labour market in the period of 2001- 2007 are analysed in research, highlighting main indicators defining flexibility of labour market, and comparing them with European Union countries. It is also assessed, which economic, social and demographic changes affect Lithuanian labour market most. After the forecast of these indicators, possible optimistic, realistic and pessimistic development of market process in Lithuania is discussed.

Diss. Örebro : Örebro universitet, 2005.

The thesis investigates the role of structural rigidities in recent labour market performances in Europe through various and complementary angles in five essays. By structural rigidities, we mean a lasting feature caused by a set of institutions, which prevents a market from operating efficiently. The approach is essentially empirical and macro-economic, while the scope of the analysis is definitely European, which is technically reflected in the use of either euro area aggregates or panels and cross-sections of European countries.

Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka hur Sveriges utrikeshandel har påverkat arbetskraftenssammansättning. Det är viktigt att utreda då den internationella handeln ständigt ökar. Enligthandelsteori leder utrikeshandel till att produktion av varor och tjänster specialiseras efter dekomparativa fördelar som förekommer. I Sveriges fall innebär det specialisering motkapitalintensiv produktion vilket bör leda till en ökad efterfråga på högskoleutbildadarbetskraft.Syftet besvaras med hjälp av en ekonometrisk studie där data från svensk tillverkningsindustriför åren 1995 – 2005 struktureras som paneldata. Andelen importerade insatsvaror användssom proxyvariabel för utrikeshandelns påverkan. Arbetskraftens sammansättning definierassom fördelningen mellan individer med och utan högskoleutbildning.Uppsatsens resultat är att utrikeshandel kan ha påverkat arbetskraftens sammansättning itillverkningsindustrin då efterfrågan på högskoleutbildad arbetskraft har ökat under studeradtidsperiod. Kapitalintensiva näringsgrenar påverkas i lägre grad jämfört medarbetskraftsintensiva näringsgrenar av en förändring i andelen importerade insatsvaror. / The purpose of this study is to analyse how Sweden’s foreign trade has affected thecomposition of the country’s workforce. International trade is growing constantly; thereforethere is a need to understand the importance and consequences of this. According to tradetheory, international trade will lead to specialisation of the production of goods and servicestowards areas where comparative advantages are prominent. In Sweden’s case, this meansspecialisation in capital-intensive production, which should increase the demand for skilledlabour.An econometric study of the Swedish manufacturing industry for the years 1995 – 2005 is thebasis for the study. Data is structured as panel data where the share of imported inputs is usedas a proxy for the impact of foreign trade on the composition of the workforce. Thecomposition consists of skilled and non-skilled labour.Results of this study demonstrate that foreign trade has affected the composition of theworkforce in the manufacturing industry, as the demand for skilled labour has increasedduring the time period.

This thesis covers two areas of the labour market not commonly studied in the context of discrimination: potential bias of job seekers against employers based on ethnicity and gender, and discrimination against employment seekers in the context of the unemployment insurance system. Utilizing survey experiments, both studies yield robust null results. Overall, these studies contribute to the understanding of discrimination dynamics in the labour market and welfare systems. Paper I shows that job seekers may not be motivated by discriminatory practices when seeking employment. However, more research is needed, and future work should be focused on natural experiments to prevent limitations similar to those in our study. Paper II highlights the importance of strict legal frameworks and of maintaining rigorous standards in public service delivery to mitigate discriminatory practices. / <p><strong>Funding:</strong> Swedish Unemployment Insurance Inspectorate</p>