Unemployment From the Perspective of the Psychology of Working

Chris Kossen and Peter McIlveen (University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia) published in Journal of Career Development Volume 45 Issue 5 (October 2018)

Abstract

Unemployment is a ubiquitous problem that is a complex of cultural, economic interpersonal, physical, and psychological dimensions.

Whereas the pernicious negative outcomes of unemployment are empirically established in the literature, there is a need to better understand the psychological experiences of unemployment so as to inform interventions that ameliorate its impact.

The present research is based on archival interview data and uses the psychology of working theory to understand 32 individuals’ experiences of unemployment. The findings include themes that are consistent with the hypothesized predictors posited in the theory, including marginalization, economic constraints, volition, career adaptability, proactive personality, critical consciousness, social support, and economic conditions.

The research findings affirm the conceptual precepts of the theory with regard to its predictors; thus, this contribution to the literature on the psychology of working and unemployment opens new perspectives on a perennial problem.

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Underemployment in the US and Europe

a column by David Bell and David Blanchflower for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal

The most widely available measure of underemployment is the share of involuntary part-time workers in total employment.

This column argues that this does not fully capture the extent of worker dissatisfaction with currently contracted hours. An underemployment index measuring how many extra or fewer hours individuals would like to work suggests that the US and the UK are a long way from full employment, and that policymakers should not be focused on the unemployment rate in the years after a recession, but rather on the underemployment rate.

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‘You End Up with Nothing’: The Experience of Being a Statistic of ‘In-Work Poverty’ in the UK

an article by Jo McBride (Newcastle University, UK), Andrew Smith (University of Bradford, UK) and Marcell Mbala (Community volunteer and part-time cleaner, UK) published in Work, Employment and Society Volume 32 Issue 1 (February 2018)

Abstract

Set in the context of the recent unprecedented upsurge of in-work poverty (IWP) in the UK – which currently exceeds out of work poverty – this article presents an account of the realities of experiencing poverty and being employed.

Central issues of low-pay, limited working hours, underemployment and constrained employment opportunities combine to generate severe financial complexities and challenges. This testimony, taken comparatively over a year, reveals the experiences of, not only IWP, but of deep poverty, and of having insufficient wages to fulfil the basic essentials of nourishing food and adequate clothing.

This article contributes to current academic and social policy debates around low-paid work, IWP, the use of foodbanks and underemployment.

New dimensions are offered regarding worker vulnerabilities, given the recent growth of the IWP phenomenon.

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On the association between perceived overqualification and adaptive behavior

an article by Chia-Huei Wu (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK), Amy Wei Tian and Aleksandra Luksyte (University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia) and Christiane Spitzmueller (University of Houston, Texas, USA) published in Personnel Review Volume 46 Issue 2 (2017)

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer an autonomous motivation perspective to explore the relationship between perceived overqualification and adaptive work behavior and examine job autonomy as a factor that may moderate the association.

Design/methodology/approach
The hypotheses were tested in two culturally, demographically, and functionally diverse samples: sample 1 was based on North American community college employees (n=215); sample 2 was based on full-time workers, employed in a Chinese state-owned enterprise specializing in shipping (n=148).

Findings
In study 1, perceived overqualification was negatively related to self-rated adaptive behavior. A follow-up study 2 extended these findings by demonstrating that perceived overqualification was negatively related to supervisor-rated adaptive work behavior when job autonomy was low, rather than high.

Research limitations/implications
The results of this research offer an autonomous motivation perspective to explain why perceived overqualification relates to adaptive behavior and suggests a job design approach to encourage adaptive behaviors of people who feel overqualified – a sizable segment of the current workforce.

Originality/value
This is one of the first studies to explore adaptive behavior of workers who feel overqualified – an outcome that has not been examined in this domain. The findings further point out what can be done to encourage adaptive behaviors among overqualified employees.

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Underemployment and well-being in the UK before and after the Great Recession

an article by Jason Heyes , Mark Tomlinson and Adam Whitworth (University of Sheffield, UK)  published in Work, employment and society Volume 31 Issue 1 (February 2017)

Abstract

Since the start of the economic crisis in 2008 there has been widespread concern with changes in the level and composition of unemployment. The phenomenon of underemployment has, however, received markedly less attention, although it too increased in extent following the start of the crisis.

This article considers the consequences of underemployment for the subjective well-being of UK employees.

Drawing on data from the 2006 and 2012 Employment and Skills Surveys, the article assesses how the Great Recession affected relationships between different dimensions of underemployment and well-being. The findings demonstrate that the negative well-being consequences of workers’ dissatisfaction with opportunities to make use of their abilities became more substantial, as did the consequences of being ‘hours constrained’ and having an unsatisfactory workload.

The article also shows that the economic crisis had a negative impact on the well-being of employees who work very long hours.

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Underemployment and the productivity paradox

via The Work Foundation by Ian Brinkley

The new blog from Danny Blanchflower is a timely reminder that the unemployment numbers do not tell the full story when it comes to measuring labour supply and demand.

Together with Jonathon Portes, Professor Blanchflower has estimated the number of hours that people would like to work and the number of hours that employers are willing to pay for. This shows that there is much more “slack” in the labour market than the unemployment rate indicates.

Continue reading includes links to lots of useful information

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Reducing poverty must be central to the debate about Scottish independence

via JRF – Combined Feed by Tom McInnes

Shocking inequalities in health and wealth have been revealed by the sixth Monitoring Poverty in Scotland report from JRF.

Our latest assessment of the trends in poverty and social exclusion in Scotland reveals progress on reducing child and pensioner poverty, which is good news. But what has developed is a stark and worrying picture of poor health and no wealth among people in Scotland.

This has manifested itself in two main ways in the jobs market, ignited by the effects of the financial crash and the recession that followed.

1. Young people have been hit particularly hard: unemployment among the under-25s stood at 90,000 in 2012, a near doubling since 2008. Unemployment among young adults is still rising, while it has levelled off for older age groups since 2010.
2. Our report highlights not just unemployment but also underemployment. Full-time jobs have been disappearing in the wake of a relentless rise in part-time positions. That leaves a workforce of 120,000 who want, but cannot find, full-time jobs – up from 70,000 just over four years ago.

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