The use of casual contract employment has become a prominent feature in higher education institutions worldwide, including the growth of adjunct roles in the United States and fixed-term teaching staff positions in the UK. In Australia, this trend has been a subject of significant controversy and national attention in recent years, as casual…

The quality of an adult's daily working life comprising the major part of his life, will also increase the quality of his social life. Having a good working life is also associated with having a job that one desires and regards it as suitable for himself. But as will be acknowledged all over the world, the quality of a job that one can have will…

Since the 1980s, many employment relationships in Taiwan have evolved from regular and long-term to contingent and short-term, with widespread downsizing adding a considerable amount of instability. Since these changes are part of a global trend, there is a growing literature concerning their influences on worker attitudes and work life quality.…

The Law School Admission Council recently reported that applications were heading toward a 30-year low, reflecting, as a "New York Times" article put it, "increased concern over soaring tuition, crushing student debt, and diminishing prospects of lucrative employment upon graduation." Since 2004 the number of law-school…

Russian science is experiencing processes of personnel aging and stagnation, which are disrupting the continuity of the generations and are limiting prospective workers' opportunities for professional and career growth. The decline in the prestige of science work, the exodus of specialists into other, more attractive segments of economic activity…

With life expectancy increasing, and changes to public policy aimed at encouraging older workers to stay in the workforce, the conditions under which people decide to retire have changed in recent years. This report describes the characteristics of those who continue to work beyond the age of 65. The findings show that two groups of workers, in…

Older workers are the fastest growing segment of the labor force, yet little is known about designing jobs for older workers that optimize their experiences relative to aging successfully. This study examined the contribution of workplace job design (opportunities for decision-making, skill variety, coworker support, supervisor support) to…

A sample of Michigan State University alumni, representing 10 graduating classes from 1952 to 1985, received a questionnaire that covered various aspects of their careers. Of the respondents, 144 indicated that they had worked at one point in their career as a nurse. Data from these respondents are analyzed in terms of career skills needed;…

This study investigated the early retirement intentions of 346 older Dutch employees by extending the theory of planned behavior with anticipated work conditions. The results showed that employees who felt a pressure from their spouse to retire early had a strong intention to leave the work force before the official retirement age, that is 65.…

Interviews with young workers, their parents, and their employers in seven communities (Birmingham, Alabama; Salinas, California; Esterville, Milford, and Terril, Iowa; Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Detroit, Michigan) show that today's young workers--the 20 million 16- to 24-year-olds who do not plan to go to college--do not receive the support…

Recent years have witnessed a growing diversity of career patterns, resulting from the relative decline of stable employment. In the present study of 1368 employed and self-employed German adults career pattern diversity was assessed using nine pictograms. The goal was to identify psychological and demographic correlates of these patterns and to…

This study tests propositions regarding idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) in a sample of N = 265 hospital employees using structural equation modeling. Timing and content of idiosyncratic employment arrangements are postulated to have differential consequences for the nature of the employment relationship. Results confirm that i-deals made after hire…

Because average wages are higher in manufacturing than in services, some observers view employment shifts to services as shifts from "good" to "bad" jobs. However, a deeper assessment reveals that within each industry, especially in services, a range of job quality exists. (Author)

The job-search rate of employed persons declined from 1995-1999. Those who actively sought new jobs were more likely to be younger, lack health or retirement benefits, or have higher educational attainment. The relationship between earnings or occupation and the likelihood of job search was not significant. (SK)

Reviews the role and the accomplishments of the United States Department of Labor in its 75 years of existence. Describes the department's establishment during an era of heavy union activity. Discusses changes in demographics of the labor force, conditions and standards, the work experience, and job placement. (CH)