Category Archives: Labour market

Qld Gov’t should reconsider Christmas Eve public holiday as it develops its small business strategy

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Gene Tunny

With the Queensland Government now consulting the community on its Small Business Strategy Discussion Paper (see Discussion open for small businesses), it should be reminded it is imposing additional costs on small businesses and discouraging some economic activity through its decision … Continue reading →

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Job platforms & recruitment agencies – latest Economics Explained episode

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Gene Tunny

In my serviced office in the Johnson hotel in Spring Hill, Brisbane, I’m surrounded by recruitment agencies. There are at least four recruitment businesses on the same floor. Recruitment agencies are still with us even though hiring has been subject … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on Jackie Trad’s interview by Steve Austin on Qld economy

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Gene Tunny

CommSec’s latest State of the States report which was released Monday reported Queensland in fifth position among Australia’s eight states and territories. On Monday afternoon, 612 ABC Brisbane’s Steve Austin interviewed Deputy Premier-Treasurer Jackie Trad on the state of the … Continue reading →

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The Gig Economy – Economics Explained episode with Darren Brady Nelson

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The topic of my latest Economics Explained episode is the so-called gig economy. Across the world, we’ve seen a surge in freelancing and contract work, facilitated by the proliferation of laptops and smartphones, and by web platforms such as Uber and Upwork. … Continue reading →

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Why is Australia’s workforce participation rate at a record high of 66.1%?

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The first episode of the new season of Utopia on the ABC featured the Intergenerational Report, which projects an eventual reduction in the workforce participation rate due to an ageing population. At the moment, however, Australia’s participation rate is actually … Continue reading →

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Qld can no longer blame a higher participation rate for its higher unemployment rate

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Queensland has typically had a higher unemployment rate than the national average, and for many years this has been attributed by some commentators to Queensland having a higher workforce participation rate (and proportionately more people wanting to work).[1] But Queensland’s … Continue reading →

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Brisbane Club presentation on Qld economy & latest Value of the Census post at the Mandarin

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Gene Tunny

Last Friday, I presented my thoughts on the economic outlook and the recent Queensland state budget at the Brisbane Club. I highlighted the positives (e.g. resource exports, international education) and negatives (e.g. low business confidence and subdued business investment across … Continue reading →

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Bad economic news keeps coming – declining job vacancies & inverted US yield curve

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Gene Tunny

The federal Department of Jobs and Small Business published its February 2019 internet job vacancies data last week, and it revealed a continuation of the downward trend in job vacancies, which were 5.5% lower in Queensland and 4.0% lower nationally … Continue reading →

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Qld economy continues to disappoint

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Gene Tunny

Queensland’s economic under-performance, which I’ve been commenting on regularly (e.g. see Deloitte’s weird definition of “strong employment growth”), is a major part of the reason why Australia’s GDP growth for September quarter came in lower than expected yesterday. The ABS … Continue reading →

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Industry groups right to say Qld economy failing to create the number of jobs needed

Posted on December 2, 2018 by Gene Tunny

I am pleased to see that peak industry bodies (e.g. the Property Council of Australia and the Infrastructure Association of Qld) are saying the same thing I have been regarding Queensland’s lacklustre jobs growth, with the Sunday Mail* today reporting: … Continue reading →

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