Is career advancement important to disadvantaged jobseekers? Analysis of a large survey of disadvantaged jobseekers
Daniel Perkins, Lauren Tyrrell and Rosanna Scutella
Melbourne Institute and Brotherhood of St Laurence
Contact Email:   rscutellabsl.org.au

For many jobseekers low-paid work is in itself not a good stepping stone towards a better job (Perkins & Scutella 2007). Research indicates that some groups of Australian workers are at risk of persistent low pay (Dunlop 2002; Richardson 2003). Evidence from the United Kingdom also suggests that low-paid low-skilled employment, like unemployment, can lead to similar ‘scarring’ effects on future employment opportunities, as these jobs allow skills to deteriorate and act as signals to prospective employers of low future productivity (Stewart 2007). The policy focus has thus shifted from helping welfare recipients to obtain jobs, to supporting employment in quality jobs that offer opportunities for wage and career progression. ‘Employment Retention and Advancement’ (ERA) demonstration programs have been developed in the US and the UK to learn what works in promoting stable employment and career progression for welfare recipients and other low-income workers.

While much has been learned about what factors are likely to encourage (Brown et al. 1998); (Holzer 2004); (Kellard et al. 2002); (Strawn & Martinson 2000); (Yeo 2007) or act as a barrier to (Holzer et al. 2004); (Holzer & Martinson 2005); (Wood & Paulsell 1999) advancement, there has been comparatively less inquiry into how low-wage workers themselves define advancement and their attitudes towards it. This study seeks to fill part of the gap on research in this area by examining career aspirations amongst Australian unemployed and other jobless groups that have experienced long spells out of the workforce, such as sole parents and people with minor disabilities. Using survey and qualitative interview data from the ARC Linkage project ‘Job retention and advancement of disadvantaged jobseekers’ the study will determine the importance placed on and identify determinants of attitudes towards career advancement.

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