Browse by: "2008"

Over the past 20 years, the management of the public service has changed tremendously in most OECD countries. First, governments have tried to reduce the size of their public employment to decrease the costs of producing government services, either directly or indirectly by contracting out the production of services to the private sector under the assumption that it would be more efficient. Second, in many cases, governments have tried to apply general good management principles to the management of public employees. As a consequence, many areas of public employment have lost their uniqueness and have become quite similar to the general employment system in the different countries. This book takes stock of the main changes in the management of public services across OECD countries. It also examines how countries manage to find a balance between, on the one hand, attention to fundamental values such as fairness, equity, justice and social cohesion to maintain political confidence in the government system as a whole and, on the other hand, a focus on efficiency, productivity and effectiveness.

Taxing Wages provides unique information on income tax paid by workers and social security contributions levied on employees and their employers in OECD countries. In addition, this annual publication specifies family benefits paid as cash transfers. Amounts of taxes and benefits are detailed program by program, for eight household types which differ by income level and household composition. Results reported include the marginal and effective tax burden for one- and two-earner families, and total labour costs of employers. This year's issue includes a Special feature entitled "Tax reforms and tax burdens 2000-2006".

As ageing populations put more downward pressure on economic growth in the coming decades, it is essential that OECD countries improve labour market performance.  This edition of OECD's annual report on labour markets brings the reader not only detailed information on recent labour market developments, but also in-depth analysis of the effects of various policy measures and prospects through 2009.  The analysis includes coverage of of the youth labour market in OECD Countries; informal employment and undeclared work; labour market discrimination and policies to combat it; the link between job stress and mental health problems; and the pay and working conditions offered by multinational firms. This book includes StatLinks, URLs which link statistical tables and graphs to Excel spreadsheets on the internet.

"Job placement” has been the traditional goal of labour and employment policies, but this report argues otherwise. To stay competitive in a globalised economy, governments must also strive to enhance the skills of workers, increase their productivity and provide upward mobility to immigrants and the disadvantaged. This report provides valuable insights into how labour policies can be expanded to meet economic development and social cohesion goals, while also reconciling national and local concerns.   Studies from seven OECD countries are presented (Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States), each analysing attempts to expand workforce development policies and bridge the gap between national and local initiatives. Included are various types of government/private sector partnerships in the United States, regional training in France and Australia’s efforts to customise policies to local needs. Based on the country studies, the report then makes specific recommendations and suggestions on how workforce development policies can be expanded and improved.

This annual edition of Labour Force Statistics provides detailed statistics on population, labour force, employment and unemployment, broken down by sex, as well as unemployment duration, employment status, employment by sector of activity and  part-time employment. It also contains participation and unemployment rates by sex and detailed age groups as well as comparative tables for the main components of the labour force. Data are available for each OECD member country and for OECD-Total, Euro area and EU15. The time series presented in the publication cover 20 years for most countries. It also provides information on the sources and definitions used by member countries in the compilation of those statistics.

This annual edition of Labour Force Statistics provides detailed statistics on population, labour force, employment and unemployment, broken down by sex, as well as unemployment duration, employment status, employment by sector of activity and  part-time employment. It also contains participation and unemployment rates by sex and detailed age groups as well as comparative tables for the main components of the labour force. Data are available for each OECD member country and for OECD-Total, Euro area and EU15. The time series presented in the publication cover 20 years for most countries. It also provides information on the sources and definitions used by member countries in the compilation of those statistics.

Getting off to a good start  in one's working life facilitates integration into the world of work and lays the foundation for a good career, while a failure can be difficult to make up. This report on the UK report contains a survey of the main barriers to employment for young people, an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to improve the transition from school-to-work, and a set of policy recommendations for further action by the public authorities and social partners.

Improving the performance of youth on the labour market is a crucial challenge in many OECD countries and first experiences on the labour market have a profound influence on later working life. This report on Norway, one of a series of country studies, surveys the main barriers to employment for young people in Norway, assesses of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to improve the transition from school to work in the country, and presents set of policy recommendations. It finds that on most counts, the youth labour market in Norway performs well, but that the incidence of sickness and disability is unusually high, immigrant youth do not fare as well, and more needs to be done to ensure that all youth leave education with recognised qualifications. 

Improving the performance of youth on the labour market is a crucial challenge in OECD countries facing persistent youth unemployment. As labour markets become more and more selective, a lack of relevant skills brings a higher risk of unemployment. Whatever the level of qualification, first experiences on the labour market have a profound influence on later working life. OECD has launched a series of reports on the school-to-work transition process in sixteen countries including the Netherlands. Each report contains a survey of the main barriers to employment for young people, an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to improve the transition from school-to-work, and a set of policy recommendations.

Improving the performance of youth on the labour market is a crucial challenge in many OECD countries and first experiences on the labour market have a profound influence on later working life. This report on Japan, one of a series of country studies, surveys the main barriers to employment for young people in Japan, assesses of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to improve the transition from school to work in the country, and presents set of policy recommendations.

When immigrants arrive in a new country, they are confronted with new labour market requirements such as language proficiency, familiarity with job search procedures and work practices which they are not always able to satisfy. These obstacles affect not only new immigrants, but, surprisingly, their children too, even if the children are born and educated in the receiving country. This publication presents reviews of the labour market integration of immigrants and their children in four OECD countries (Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Portugal), and provides country-specific recommendations. Governments have a role to play in promoting language and vocational training, and encouraging diversity in the workplace. Immigrants themselves must accept the requirements of the host country employers. The viability of future migration policies, in particular greater recourse to immigration, will depend to a large extent on how successful OECD countries and immigrants are in achieving these objectives.

Empezar con buen pie –El paso de los jóvenes de la escuela al mundo del trabajo en los países de la OCDE– ¿Cuánto tiempo toma a la juventud transitar de la escuela a la vida laboral?, ¿los recién egresados que se emplean en trabajos de baja remuneración o temporales se estancan ahí o son capaces de moverse a mejores empleos y ascender en sus carreras?
Declarar el trabajo o trabajar en la economía sumergida: el empleo informal en siete países de la OCDE. ¿Qué tan extendido se encuentra el empleo informal y no declarado en países de ingresos bajos y medios de la OCDE?, ¿qué políticas pueden adoptar los países para reducir el empleo informal y los problemas que este crea?
El precio de los prejuicios: la discriminación en el mercado de trabajo por razones de sexo y de origen étnico. ¿Cuánta discriminación padecen las mujeres y las minorías étnicas en el mercado de trabajo?, ¿Qué están haciendo los gobiernos de la OCDE para reducir la discriminación y cómo esos esfuerzos son más efectivos?
¿Son todos los trabajos buenos para la salud? La influencia de la situación con respecto al empleo y de las condiciones de trabajo en la salud mental. ¿El aumento considerable del número de perceptores de prestaciones por incapacidad a causa de enfermedades mentales en países de la OCDE refleja un aumento generalizado en problemas de salud mental de la población en edad activa? ¿cómo el trabajo y el estrés relacionado afecta la salud mental?
¿Favorecen las empresas multinacionales la mejora de la remuneración y de las condiciones de trabajo? ¿las filiales en el extranjero de empresas multinacionales pagan mejores salarios y ofrecen mejores condiciones de trabajo que las empresas locales? ¿se producen efectos en los salarios y en las condiciones de trabajo en las empresas locales?

Cette publication s’appuie sur la littérature analytique, les données disponibles les plus récentes ainsi que les riches inventaires et évaluations des politiques effectués par certains pays membres et pays observateurs pour discuter des dimensions, de l’importance et des implications en termes de politique des flux internationaux de ressources humaines en science et technologie (RHST). Elle vise à élargir la compréhension par les pays membres de l’OCDE de la mobilité des RHST, en particulier des scientifiques, ingénieurs et chercheurs, et de l’éventail des politiques disponibles pour gérer et façonner cette mobilité, en faisant la synthèse des analyses de la mobilité internationale, du transfert de savoir et de l’innovation, et des politiques publiques en la matière.