The Changing Face of the Global Job Market: Working and Unworking Patterns
Euromonitor International's The Changing Face of the Global Job Market: Working and Unworking Patterns Strategy Briefings is a series of reports that alert you to global trends predicted to influence consumer markets. They offer insight to changing market conditions and the opportunities and challenges companies need to consider to maintain a competitive advantage
Chapters: 8 | Tables: 31 | Publication date: Oct 2009
Why buy this report
- Get insight into trends in market performance
- Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
- Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment
Regional coverage
Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; Latin America; Asia-Pacific; Oceania; Africa and the Middle East
Table of contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THE LABOUR MARKET
Chart 1 Economically Active Population by Region: % Breakdown 2008
WORKING CONDITIONS
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
Summary 1 Impact of Changing Work Patterns: Opportunities and Threats
KEY TRENDS IN UNEMPLOYMENT
OUTLOOK
DEFINITIONS
ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION
EMPLOYED POPULATION
EMPLOYMENT RATE
LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE
EMPLOYED MALE/FEMALE POPULATION
FAMILY WORKERS
AVERAGE WORKING WEEK IN NON-AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
THE LABOUR MARKET
ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION
The growing workforce
Africa and the Middle East sees strongest growth
Table 1 Economically Active Population by Region 2003/2008
Table 2 Economically Active Population as % Total Population by Region 2003-2008
Job creation in India
Shortage of skilled workers in Australia
Table 3 Economically Active Population in Major Markets 2003/2008
Table 4 Labour Force Participation Rates in Selected Countries 2003-2008
AGE PROFILE OF WORK FORCE
Gen X’ers in their prime
Young people entering workforce later
Baby boomers dominate in North America
Table 5 Economically Active Population by Country and by Age 2008
WORKING CONDITIONS
LABOUR MARKET REGULATION
A need for flexibility
UK and Spain loosen regulations
WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION
Prejudice rises in times of recession
Discrimination still rife in China
WORKING HOURS
People generally working longer hours
Gen X’ers seek more family time
Japanese are most industrious
Chinese defy working hours regulations
Implications for marketers
Table 6 Average Working Week in Manufacturing: Major Markets 2003-2008
LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS
Leave entitlement most generous in India and Brazil
Americans lack statutory leave entitlement
Leave-taking highly seasonal in Japan and China
Implications for marketers
Chart 2 Paid Holiday Allowance in Major Markets 2008
MATERNITY BENEFITS
Varying attitudes towards parental leave
No mercy for US mothers
Chinese women face employer discrimination
Chart 3 Length of Maternity Leave in Selected Countries 2008
INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT
Informal businesses rife in India and Brazil
Illegal work in developed markets
WAGE TRENDS
Wage growth exceeds CPI over the review period
Wages lower in the US, France and Spain
The effects of the recession on wages
Table 7 Index of Wage Growth Versus CPI in Selected Markets 2003-2008
Chart 4 Average Wage in Non-agricultural Activities in Selected Markets 2008
THE GENDER PAY GAP
Traditional gender roles still entrenched
Women face higher taxes
Chinese women still earn fraction of male counterparts’ wages
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
SHIFT FROM INDUSTRY TO SERVICES
Services are the major employers in industrialised markets
Many still reliant on agriculture
Manufacturing is Germany’s mainstay
Government is key employer in many developed markets
India by-passes industrial revolution
Implications for marketers
Table 8 Employment in Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing in Selected Countries 2003/2008
Table 9 Employment in Manufacturing in Selected Countries 2003/2008
Table 10 Employment in Construction in Selected Countries 2003/2008
Table 11 Employment in Community, Education, Health, Social, Personal Services, Public Admin and Defence in Selected Countries 2003/2008
Table 12 Employment in Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services in Selected Countries 2003/2008
Table 13 Employment in Trade; Motor Vehicles, and Personal and Household Goods Repair; Hotels and Restaurants in Selected Countries 2003/2008
AGEING OF THE WORKFORCE
Over 65s increase share of the workforce
Governments raise retirement age
Boomers expand fastest in North America
Older Gen X’ers drive workforce in China
Impact on marketers
Table 14 Economically Active Population by Country and by Age: % Growth 2003/2008
SHRINKING PENSION POT
Public pensions under pressure
Gen X’ers worry about their future
UK pensions “worst in EU”
Italy spends the most on pensions
Spain shifting towards Anglo-Saxon model
Canada benefits from diversified funding approach
China’s one-child policy is depleting the pensions pot
Implications for marketers
GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN WORK ATTITUDES
Gen X’ers seek better work-life balance
Gen Y’ers look for freedom and flexibility
The need for dialogue
The unique skills of the young
RISE IN FEMALE EMPLOYMENT
Russia has highest share of female employees
Proportion of female workers still low in India
Women make up largest share of part-time workforce
Implications for marketers
Chart 5 Women’s Share of the Workforce in Selected Countries 2003/2008
Chart 6 Women’s Share of the Part-Time Workforce in Selected Countries 2003/2008
SHIFT TOWARDS PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
Part-timers make for flexible workplace
Japan has largest part-time workforce
Germany experiences strongest growth
US part-timers concentrated in low-pay jobs
Part-time work still rare in developing markets
Table 15 Part-Time Employees as a % of the Total Economically Active Population in Selected Markets 2003-2008
The rise of the multi-job
Impact on marketers
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Workers prefer to be their own bosses in emerging markets
Self-employment growing in UK
German government encourages entrepreneurism
Table 16 The Share of Self-Employed People in Selected Markets 2003-2008
STRIVING FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Longer working hours causing stress levels to soar...
...and contributing to family breakdowns
Balancing a career with wellbeing
Japanese focus on lifestyle
WORKING FROM HOME
Advances in communications facilitate teleworking
Survey reveals massive growth in US telecommuting
Table 17 Telecommuter Profile in the US 2006/2008
Impact on marketers
LABOUR MOBILITY
Internal migration traditionally strong in US
The rural exodus in China
External migration from poor countries
East to West migration in the EU
Indian migrants are widely dispersed
Immigration contributes to economic growth
Government tightening immigration policies in the face of recession
The economic importance of remittances
Indians benefit most from remittance payments
Chart 7 Leading Recipients of Migrant Remittances Among Developing Countries 2008
Impact on marketers
UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDS
THE GOOD YEARS: 2003-2008
South Africa suffers highest unemployment
Spain faces worst rate among developed markets
Decline in EU rates during review period
Japan unemployment historically low
Table 18 Unemployment Rates in Selected Markets 2003-2008
THE CRISIS: 2009
Financial crisis triggers rise in unemployment
Temporary workers first to be hit
Germany and France protected by stricter labour laws
Uncertainty in emerging markets
UNEMPLOYMENT BY AGE
The youth unemployment problem
Situation worsens in UK
Sarkozy unveils emergency plan for youths
Emerging markets suffer similar problems
Helping older people back into the workforce
Table 19 Unemployment by Age in Selected Countries 2008
GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO UNEMPLOYMENT
Welfare benefits more generous in Western Europe
Taking a new approach
Fiscal stimulus packages meet with success
Japan attempts to make temps permanent
IMPLICATIONS FOR MARKETERS
Consumers scale back
Cocooning takes a hold
TRENDS IN KEY MARKETS
BRAZIL
Young and growing workforce
Strict labour laws
Informal business is rife
Rising unemployment
Table 20 Brazil: Key Data 2008-2010
CHINA
World’s largest workforce
Rural economy still dominates
Rural migrants hit hardest by job losses
Table 21 China: Key Data 2008-2010
FRANCE
Early retirement produces lower labour force rate
Strict labour laws
Service-orientated economy
Table 22 France: Key Data 2008-2010
GERMANY
Germans more industrious than EU counterparts
Government measures take effect
Table 23 Germany: Key Data 2008-2010
JAPAN
Japan retains strong work ethic
Part-time sector booms with liberalisation of labour laws
Japanese jobless become homeless
Table 24 Japan: Key Data 2008-2010
UK
Flexible workforce regulations
Structural changes favour service industries
Unemployment soars in 2009
Table 25 UK: Key Data 2008-2010
US
US characterised by longer working hours
Service-orientated society
Unemployment is accelerating
Table 26 US: Key Data 2008-2010
OUTLOOK
UNEMPLOYMENT WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER
Green shoots on the horizon?
Emerging markets leading recovery
Unemployment lags economic growth
Table 27 Forecast Unemployment Rates in Selected Markets 2008-2013
WORKFORCE WILL CONTINUE TO AGE
MIGRATION WILL SLOW
Table 28 Forecast Remittance Flows to Developing Countries 2008-2010
FEMALE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION REACHES ITS PEAK
Table 29 Forecast Share of Women in the Economically Active Population 2008/2013
WORKERS CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT WILL CONTINUE TO RISE
Table 30 Forecast Share of Part-Time Employment 2008/2013