Employment is considered as one of the most concerned and discussed issues that impact the students internationally. From the global perspective, there are numerous prospects for the students. The primary challenge for the students is to possess all the qualifications as well as qualities that are necessary for a good job profile. While analysing and researching about the labour markets of various countries, it has been evaluated that the Australian labour market is one of the most efficient market from the economical point of view. The Australian market offers ample of employment opportunities to the graduates that satisfy their job requirements (Davidson, Timo and Wang, 2010). The report will present the information relate to the labour market data and its statistics. The Australian labour market as well as the global labour market is continuously developing and growing. With the help of Woolworths, a renowned supermarket chain, the labour market of the retail sector has been discussed in the report. There are numerous changes that are taking place in the retail sector and some of these changes are developing several challenges that the labour market is experiencing. The other new trends appearing in the labour market also results in increased employment rate in the industry. The final evaluation will be performed by the means of an interview with one of the employee of the organisation to get the insights of the labour market trends in the retail sector. The interview will help in highlighting the past incidence related to the union and labour, the present working condition of the employees and the satisfaction level and the employment opportunities for the workers. The report will conclude with a brief overall analysis.
The Australian labour market is analysed as economically robust and developed as the rate of unemployment is also declining continuously as there are vast employment opportunities for the individuals seeking for job. The students also have employment prospects both part time and full time employment opportunities.
(Source: Australian Government, 2017)
As per the data gathered from the regional reports, the rate of unemployment has declines in all the regions of the country except the region of Western Australia and this demonstrates signs of improvement in the overall opportunities for employment and also shows positive labour market in Australia (Financial Times, 2017).
(Source: ILO, 2017)
The OECD has its key role in developing the labour market enhancing the employment rate of the countries covered under OECD. The international labour market has strengthened and experienced improvement since last decade. But from the overall international aspect comprising of the developed, underdeveloped and developing nations, there are several issues in respect with the employment and the labour market. The rate of unemployment is still elevated as well as there are disparities that are still present in the international labour market regarding the gender and youth perspective. From the regional perspectives, some nations are developing and achieving faster growth of the labour market but there are several unemployment issues in the remaining part of the globe which negatively impacts the overall labour market. The people who have high qualification and are much competent possess secured jobs but the individuals of the age group 15 to 29 have a serious concern related to employment as due to lack of competencies and qualifications, the individuals of these age groups are restricted in achieving better employment prospects (OECD, 2016).
Australian Labour Market
(Source: Australian Workforce and Productivity agency, 2014)
Currently there are around 1.2 million individuals that support the employment in the retail sector. The retail industry is one of the most recognized sectors in terms of employment as it offers maximum job opportunities for the people who come under the age of 45. The retail industry is also one recognized sectors that offers the individuals and the graduates the initial job opportunity in their lives. The percentage of women participation in all other industries stands for forty six percent as an average but in the retail sector of Australia, the percentage of women participation is fifty six. The graduates and the fresher have a wide opportunity for part time jobs in the Australian retail sector that offers them both the benefit i.e. time to study as well as job. The sector has its vital significance in raising the GDP of the nation (Australian Workforce and Productivity agency, 2014).
Several changes have appeared in the retail industry in past few years that has affected the labour demand and the competency level required. There are various factors that play vital roles in the changes occurred in the retail industry such as the country demographics, innovative technologies, changes in the economy, sustainable practices, changing consumer preferences, upsurge market competition and globalisation (Price, Bailey and Pyman, 2014).
The retail industry of Australia has great development prospects due to the growth of Asian regions as the demands and needs of the individuals are changing and rising with an upsurge rate (Jefferson and Preston, 2010). There are various issues and challenges that are occurring because of the presence of international retailers in the nation due to increased globalisation. These retailers are giving intense competition to the Australian retailers by offering high wages to the workers and making them influence to switch the organisations (Lawrence, Richards and Lyons, 2013).
(Source: Australian Workforce and Productivity agency, 2014)
The key and the primary change that have affected the retail sector is the continuous technological improvement. In all the operational activities of the retail business there is regular use of technological innovations. One of the most rapidly growing features is the online retailing (Nickson, et al., 2012). The individuals are highly facilitated to buy the services and the products online. Thus, the people who are techno-friendly as well as highly educated are in high demand for managing these online retailing operations. Due to global recession, the industries, employment and the products all experienced a sudden decline (Plumb, Kent and Bishop, 2013). With the change in time, there are several changes and development in the retail sector that made the retail industry one of the most developed and successful sectors across the country.
International Labour Market Trends
In past few years there is rapid growth of the retail labour market. The organisations are required to maintain ethical principles and standards in the worker employment practices. In the working hours, wages as well as in other factors of labour employment there must be equity as well as there must be offered high level of security and safety to the workers. Thus, it can be stated that there are numerous developments in the retail labour market which has resulted in increased opportunities for employment and helped the sector and the employees to grow with an increasing rate (Dyster and Meredith, 2012).
Woolworths is the supermarket of Australia which can be considered as one of the most suitable organisation for evaluating the labour market of Australian retail industry. There are approximately 110,000 people that are part of the Woolworths. It is forecasted that there will be significant boom in the retail labour market in the coming five years which will result in an upsurge of 8.9% in retail sector employment and 1.7% average upsurge on annual basis (Richardson, n.d.). The company plays a significant role in developing the Australian labour market as it offers employment to huge number of people. There is influential code of conducts as well as improved ethical standards that offers an adequate as well as a secure work place environment to the workers (Wheelahan, Buchanan and Yu, 2015).
There are various factors which have impacted the organisation as well as the retail sector in context with labour market in last five years. The primary factor which has impacted the retail sector is related to training and education as most of the workforces in the retail labour market are usually possess low degree of education and qualifications. The individuals join the retail sector just after completion of their post-school or secondary schooling because of extensive requirement of jobs. Thus, it occurs as the primary factor or issue for the retail sector to utilize the benefits of trainings and higher education which are provided under the career development framework (Healy, 2016). Another factor which has led down huge impact is the continuous modifications in the consumers’ preferences. There is high customer base of the companies that possess high ethical recognition as well as environmental sustainability. Thus, the organisations were required to maintain and follow ethical standards, environmental protection practices and the labour laws in the business operations. As a result the organisations are required to pay appropriate wages to the workers that can enhance the employment standards of the labours (Hall and van den Broek, 2011).
In the coming five years, there will be several factor which will occur and have a direct impact upon the organisation and the overall retail sector of Australia. The most likely factor in future will be the use of updated and high technologies. With the advancement in the technologies, the customers prefer purchasing the products online and this impact the sales of the supermarkets. Another factor is the availability of the employees from the overseas regions as with the increased globalisation, there are more numbers of expatriates rather than the individuals from the home country. Thus, it benefits the organisation to get labour at low price but from the overall perspective it lays down negative impact upon the growth of the country (ILO, 2017).
Australian labour market of the retail sector
An interview was conducted with an employee of Woolworths who was working at retailing and sales department for getting the info of the numerous changes and trends that have taken place in the labour market of the retail sector.The interviewee holds a total of three years of experience at the company and is one of the well engaged and associated employees of Woolworths. The interviewee was questioned regarding the past incidence related to the union and labour, the present working condition of the employees and the satisfaction level and the employment opportunities for the workers.
From his personal experience, the person answered the questions. He offered relevant info in respect with the retail labour market as well as the current situation of the workers. Presently there is huge demand for people who can manage the back office as well as the front-office business operations. The company also require employees to manage the queries raised over the online portals as well as to handle the issues or the grievances of the customers at the stores. There are vast opportunities available to the individuals to have their satisfactory career in the marketing and sales department. On regular basis there is recruitment of individuals at the various stores of Woolworths. According to the work and time, the employees are paid equitably in both full time as well as part time shifts (Giannikis and Mihail, 2011).
The employee satisfaction level are also high at Woolworths as there are offered appropriate wages to the workers as well as there is also flexible shift hours in accordance with the various government regulations and norms (Mitchell, et al., 2010). But from the information related to few past incidences it was analysed that there were certain issues at Woolworths. These issues were in regards with the unreasonable and lessen wages and the unpaid wages to the employees. But with effective and ethical practices and strategies these issues were resolved and now Woolworths has an improved position in the Australian retail labour market and as a result high number of individuals are looking for employment perspectives at the company.
Conclusion:
Labour market is a dynamic market that has rapid and continuous changes because of various reasons. From this report, it can be evaluated that numerous factors affects the unemployment rate, the rate of employment as well as the labour market. It can be stated that the retail sector has its major role in regulating the labour market as retail sector offers huge employment to the individuals that directly impact the rate of employment (Billett, et al., 2011). From the analysis of the labour market in relation with the retail industry, it has been assessed that numerous modifications have taken place due to global competition, globalisation as well as use of pioneering technologies. From the evaluation of retail labour market through Woolworths, it can be stated that there are vast opportunities for the individuals in the retail sector. The insights gained from the interview regarding the past incidences, employment opportunities and the current trends haveoffered in-depth info of the retail labour market. It can be concluded that there are vast opportunities for employment for the graduates in the retail industry. Australian labour market offers great employment perspectives to the fresher and the students. From the analyse of the last few years, it can be stated that numerous modifications have taken place in the labour market and retail sector that have supported the success and growth of the labour market and development of the employment opportunities.
References:
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