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Younger Workers (younger + worker)
Selected AbstractsAN ECONOMY ILL-SUITED TO YOUNGER WORKERS: CHILD AND YOUTH WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION IN COLONIAL QUEENSLAND, 1886,1901AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 2 2006Bradley Bowden child labour; demographic economics; history; labour demand; Queensland This article explores the extent and significance of child and youth work in late 19th century Australia. It demonstrates that, while demographic changes meant that almost half the population was aged 19 years or less, this age cohort never comprised more than 18 per cent of the recorded workforce. It is argued that this under-representation reflects the fact that children and youths were ill-suited to the work demands of most colonial occupations. They did not threaten the position of adult males in the key areas of the economy such as construction, heavy engineering, pastoral work, mining and transport. [source] Foraging for Work and Age-Based Polyethism: The Roles of Age and Previous Experience on Task Choice in AntsETHOLOGY, Issue 11 2004Frederic Tripet In social insects, colonies commonly show temporal polyethism in worker behavior, such that a worker follows a predictable pattern of changes between tasks as it ages. This pattern usually leads from workers first doing a safe task like brood care, to ending their lives doing the most dangerous tasks like foraging. Two mechanisms could potentially underlie this pattern: (1) age-based task allocation, where the aging process itself predisposes workers to switch to more dangerous tasks; and (2) foraging for work, where ants switch to tasks that need doing from tasks which have too many associated workers. We tested the relative influence of these mechanisms by establishing nests of Camponotus floridanus with predetermined combinations of workers of known age and previous task specialization. The results supported both mechanisms. Nests composed of entirely brood-tending workers had the oldest workers preferentially switching to foraging. However, in nests initially composed entirely of foragers, the final distribution of tenders and foragers was not different from random task-switching and therefore supportive of foraging for work. Thus, it appears that in C. floridanus there is directionality to the mechanisms of task allocation. Switching to more dangerous tasks is age-influenced, but switching to less dangerous tasks is age-independent. The results also suggest that older workers are more flexible in their task choice behavior. Younger workers are more biased towards choosing within-nest tasks. Finally, there are effects of previous experience that tend to keep ants in familiar tasks. Task allocation based on several mechanisms may balance between: (1) concentrating the most worn workers into the most dangerous tasks; (2) increasing task performance levels; and (3) maintaining behavioral flexibility to respond to demographic perturbations. The degree to which behavior is flexible may correlate to the frequency of such perturbations in a species. [source] Who Benefits from the Reform of Pension Taxation in Germany?,FISCAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2007Hans Fehr The present paper quantifies the revenue, distributional and efficiency effects of the recent reform of pension taxation in Germany. The starting point is the new legislation, which has introduced a switch to the deferred taxation of retirement benefits starting in 2005. We compare this reform with an alternative transition proposed by the Federation of German Pension Insurance Institutes (VDR), where double taxation is avoided at the cost of higher revenue losses. Our simulations indicate significant growth and efficiency gains from the new tax legislation. Winners from the reform are mainly younger workers, while older workers, civil servants and the self-employed will lose. The VDR proposal would have resulted in higher efficiency gains, but also in stronger distributional consequences. [source] Psychosocial risk exposures and musculoskeletal disorders across working-age males and femalesHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 4 2010John Collins Abstract In 2008, The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) reported that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were the most common work-related health problem in Europe. Females are considered more susceptible to MSDs than are males, and older workers are more vulnerable than are younger workers. Factors specific to the job, work organization, and individual have been implicated as potential risk factors, with current interest focusing on psychosocial risk factors and the pathology of disorders. Although there is some disagreement in the literature, there is growing support that, after controlling for exposure, females have a predisposition to MSDs. More is known of the role of psychosocial risks in MSD etiology, but it is unclear if there are differences in exposures across gender and age and if this has a resultant effect on injury rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MSDs and trends with psychosocial risks, across age and gender. The study group consisted of 200 female and 132 male employees from varied occupations within Ireland, ranging from age 18,66 years. The most prevalent symptoms of MSDs were for the lower back, shoulder, and neck regions. Age and gender differences in prevalence were evident for these regions. There was a general trend for increasing prevalence with age. For the psychosocial risks, significant differences in job content exposures were observed across age groups for males (p < 0.05) and females (p < 0.0005). There were also differences in scores across the age groups for mental health (p < 0.0005) and insecurity at work (p < 0.0005) for the females. The conclusions are that there were not sufficiently strong differences in exposures to relevant psychosocial risks both between genders and across age for a resultant effect on MSDs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Age Bias in the Workplace: The Impact of Ageism and Causal Attributions,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Deborah E. Rupp This study considers the roles of managerial ageism and causal attributions in the age bias process. Specifically, we predicted that employee age and manager ageism would interact in predicting the severity of recommendations made about an employee's performance errors, such that ageist managers would be more likely to engage in age bias. Second, we proposed that age bias is caused partially by differential attributions made about the performance errors of older vs. younger workers. Results indicated that older employees received more severe recommendations for poor performance than did their younger counterparts. Also, some ageist attitudes moderated the relationship between age and performance recommendations. Stability attributions mediated the relationship of employee age on endorsement of the more punitive recommendations. [source] The Structure of Wages by Firm Size: A Comparison of Canada and the USALABOUR, Issue 2 2009Stéphanie Lluis Cross-country comparisons of the skill premium between USA and Canada show differences in the returns to higher education between the two countries since the 1980s. This paper analyses whether such differences could be related to differences in skill distribution and worker sorting across firm size between the two countries. Estimation of the wage structure by size for male non-unionized workers in the private sector reveals that selectivity effects on wages are present and similar in both countries. There are significant and substantial cross-country differences in the returns to education among large firms, especially for younger workers. [source] The nonprofit leadership deficit: A case for more optimismNONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 3 2009Janet L. Johnson Recent headlines claim that a looming nonprofit leadership crisis will soon be precipitated by retiring baby boomers. Analysis of baby boom demographics, using national census data on the age distribution and other demographic characteristics of top leaders by sector, confirms the aging nonprofit workforce. However, the issue of whether the aging workforce portends a nonprofit leadership crisis, when analyzed within a theoretical framework of supply and demand in the market for nonprofit executives, reveals flaws in most commentaries about the leadership crisis. Workings of the labor market and nonprofit organizations themselves suggest trends that could be expected to affect labor supply and demand and mitigate a leadership deficit. Reasonable,and likely,market and organizational adjustments, including higher executive pay, increased labor force participation of older workers, skill acquisition of younger workers, possible consolidation of nonprofit organizations, board and volunteer skill sharing, and even venture philanthropy, can be expected to moderate the shock of baby boom retirements, much in the way that schools, job markets, and housing markets have accommodated the movement of this "bulging" generation through earlier decades of their lives. [source] Monitoring working conditions and health of older workers in Dutch construction industryAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010Peter Hoonakker PhD Abstract Background Accurate reporting of work-related conditions is necessary to monitor workplace health and safety and to identify the interventions that are most needed. In the Netherlands, working conditions and health are monitored on an aggregated level in the construction industry. One of the purposes of monitoring is to identify specific risk factors and risk groups. The objectives of this study was to examine (1) whether older workers (,55 years) in the construction industry are a special group at risk and (2) whether there are specific risk factors for older workers in the construction industry. Methods Every 2 years, more than 70,000 construction workers in the Netherlands fill out a questionnaire as part of their periodic health checkup. In a repeated cross-sectional (trend) design, we compared working conditions (physical and psychological demands), musculoskeletal disorders (symptoms and conditions), and injuries of older workers with other age categories. Results Older construction workers have fewer complaints about physically demanding work and psychosocial workload, but have more complaints about working in awkward postures. Older workers have more complaints about their health than workers in other age categories. Older construction workers have fewer injuries than younger workers. Conclusions Older construction workers are a risk group for musculoskeletal disorders. Working in awkward postures can be considered a risk factor for older workers in construction industry. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53: 641,653, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differences in access to wage replacement benefits for absences due to work-related injury or illness in CanadaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009Peter M. Smith Abstract Background The objective of this article is to examine the factors associated with differences in access to income replacement benefits for workers experiencing a work-related injury or illness of 1-week or longer in the Canadian labor force. Methods This study utilized data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, a representative longitudinal survey conducted by Statistics Canada. A total of 3,352 work-related absences were identified. Logistic regression models examined factors at the individual, occupational, and geographic level that were associated with the probability of receiving compensation. Results The probability of not receiving employer or workers' compensation benefits was higher among women, immigrants in their first 10 years in Canada, younger workers, respondents who were in their first year of a job, those who were not members of a union or collective bargaining agreement, and part-time workers. Conclusions More research is required to understand why almost 50% of respondents with 1-week or longer work-related absences did not report receiving workers' compensation payments following their absence. More importantly, research is required to understand why particular groups of workers are more likely to be excluded from any type of compensation for lost earnings after a work-related injury and illness in Canada. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:341,349, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Outcomes in work-related injuries: A comparison of older and younger workersAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2005Glenn S. Pransky MD, MOCCH Abstract Background The "graying of the workforce" has generated concerns about the physical capacity of older workers to maintain their health and productivity on the job, especially after an injury occurs. There is little detailed research on age-related differences in work outcomes after an occupational injury. Methods A self-report survey about occupational, health, and financial outcomes, and related factors was administered 2,8 weeks post-injury to workers aged <,55 and ,,55 who had lost time due to a work injury. Results Despite more severe injuries in older workers, most outcomes were similar in both age groups. In multivariate models, age was unrelated or inversely related to poor outcomes. Injury severity, physical functioning, and problems upon return to work were associated with adverse work injury outcomes. Conclusions Older workers appear to fare better than younger workers after a work injury; their relative advantage may be primarily due to longer workplace attachment and the healthy worker effect. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:104,112, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] External cause-specific summaries of occupational fatal injuries.AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2003Part I: An analysis of rates Abstract Background Industries and occupations vary with respect to the incidence of fatal injuries and their causes. Methods Fatalities from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality database (years 1983,1994) serve as the basis for examining external cause of death code specific rates. Industries and occupations are compared with respect to rate and frequency of fatal injuries. In addition, external causes of injury (E-codes) are examined across all industries and occupations as well as within industries and occupations to evaluate which events would be identified by frequency ordered comparisons versus injury rate ordered comparisons. Results Machinery, electric current, homicide, falls, and transportation-related events are identified by high frequency and rate of occurrence. Conclusions The external cause categories of homicide, machinery-related, motor-vehicle-related, electric current, and falls, account for over one-half of all occupational fatal injuries. Targeted interventions in homicide may be especially warranted in sales and service occupations and in the retail trade and services industries. In addition, younger workers might be targeted for special interventions designed to identify hazardous practices, procedures, and solutions to reduce fatalities associated with electrocution or falls from buildings. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43:237,250, 2003. Published 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] External cause-specific summaries of occupational fatal injuries.AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2003Part II: An analysis of years of potential life lost Abstract Background Fatal injury surveillance data provide an opportunity to assess the impact of occupational injuries and may indicate which industries or occupations are appreciably more hazardous than others, and thus should be given priority in public health intervention. Methods Fatalities from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatality surveillance system served as the basis for examining external cause (E-code) specific impact summaries. Years of potential life lost (YPLL) were calculated for fatal injuries in the years 1983,1994. Industries and occupations were compared with respect to frequency of fatal injuries. In addition, injuries in categories of external causes are examined across all industries and occupations. Results Machinery, electric current, homicide, falls, and transportation-related are the external cause groups highlighted by high frequency/rate of occurrence. Electric current event groups are also characterized by high average YPLL. Poisoning, conflagration, and lightning were also identified in several occupations as having high associated average YPLL. Conclusions The external-cause-specific analysis of average YPLL identified industries and occupations where, on average, younger workers were dying in fatal injuries. Noteworthy in this assessment were homicides and falls. The YPLL measure coupled with more commonly employed indices (e.g., rates) may provide a fuller description of the impact of occupational fatal injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43:251,261, 2003. Published 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] New technologies, organisation and age: firm-level evidence,THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL, Issue 509 2006Patrick Aubert We investigate the relationships between new technologies, innovative workplace practices and the age structure of the workforce in a sample of French firms. We find evidence that the wage-bill share of older workers is lower in innovative firms and that the opposite holds for younger workers. This age bias affects both men and women. It is also evidenced within occupational groups. More detailed analysis of employment inflows and outflows shows that new technologies essentially affect older workers through reduced hiring opportunities. In contrast, organisational innovations mainly affect their probability of exit, which decreases much less than for younger workers following reorganisation. [source] Are Older Workers Less Productive?THE ECONOMIC RECORD, Issue 2010A Case Study of Aged Care Workers in Australia Employers are reluctant to employ older workers. Is this because they are less productive than equivalent younger workers? This paper uses data from a 2007 census of residential aged care homes in Australia to examine the productivity differentials of workers at different ages. We estimate production functions that take into account the age profile of the workforce in each aged care residential facility. We find that for the facilities having high care residents only, the productivity of nurses, whose work is more demanding of specialist knowledge, keeps increasing with age while the rate of increase declines after age 50. In contrast, the productivity of carers, whose work is more demanding of physical capacity, is highest in middle age. The facilities with low care residents only provide a much lower level of services because their residents are less frail and more independent. In this case, none of the coefficients regarding the impacts of age on productivity is statistically significant , suggesting that older workers are good substitutes for younger ones. [source] Are Older Workers Disadvantaged in the Hong Kong Labour Market?ASIAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL, Issue 3 2000Lok Sang Ho Using data collected from two surveys on the labour market in Hong Kong, this paper shows that older workers on average are more likely to be unemployed than younger ones. Unemployed workers aged above 45 tend to face a longer spell of unempoyment, receive fewer job offers and expect lower future wages than the unemployed younger workers. Older employed workers may also be disadvantaged. This paper compares the promotion and training opportunities available to olderand younger employed workers. We found that older workers are less likely to bepromoted or selected for training. [source] |