EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INCOME IMPOVERISHMENT IN ECUADOR.

The pandemic increased poverty worldwide. However, the mechanisms affecting its determining factors still need to be clarified. This paper studies this problem using a probabilistic model of poverty extended with pandemic incidence variables and applying logistic regression at the household level. For the case of Ecuador, we use the December rounds of the 2019 and 2020 National Survey for Employment, Underemployment and Unemployment (ENEMDU), the administrative record of the Covid-19 epidemiological report, and the administrative history of deaths. The results show that the pandemic's impact on poverty was through the gender gap and labor market structure. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] La pandemia incrementó la pobreza a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, no se tiene claridad sobre los mecanismos de afectación en sus determinantes. En el presente artículo se estudia este problema utilizando un modelo probabilístico de la pobreza extendido con variables de incidencia de la pandemia, y aplicando una regresión logística a nivel de hogar. Para el caso de Ecuador se utiliza las rondas de diciembre de la Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, Subempleo y Desempleo (ENEMDU) de 2019 y 2020, el registro administrativo del reporte epidemiológico de Covid-19 y el registro administrativo de defunciones. Los resultados muestran que los canales de impacto de la pandemia en pobreza se dieron a través de la brecha de género y la estructura del mercado laboral. (Spanish) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Problemas del Desarrollo. Revista Latinoamericana de Economía is the property of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Investigaciones Economicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Determinants of school to work transition and COVID-19

Purpose: This is Part 1 of the two special issues on the topic, "School to work transition around the world – the effect of the pandemic recession.” The first part focuses on the determinants of the school-to-work transition (STWT) and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the young worker and their response to uncertain labor market conditions. The second issue will explore the country-specific experiences around the globe in tackling the problem of a smooth STWT. The purpose of this introductory article is to elaborate on the transition of young workers in the labor market. Discussion on the status of various indicators of the youth labor market (unemployment, underemployment and not in employment, education and training [NEET]) is also integrated. The determining factors of school-to-work transition (STWT) and the role of technical and vocational institutions and universities are analyzed. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market is also evaluated. After the pandemic, there was a dreadful change in the job market;this study dives into those diverse factors and carves out the multiple impacts on youth unemployment. Design/methodology/approach: The study analyses relevant literature on STWT, NEET and COVID-19 implications for the labor market, based on the other papers in this special issue. Using the review method, the authors identified similar research articles and reports which helped in strengthening the study's argument. The primary focus of the study was on the smooth transition of young workers in the labor market and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment. Hence, literature supported the authors in giving the justifications from various economies and societies. Findings: The paper finds that youth worldwide have suffered from the repercussions of COVID-19, especially in their early career (STWT). Skill mismatch, underemployment, job losses, salary cut downs, health issues, vocational education importance, vulnerable employment, etc. were some of the significant impacts the authors identified by analyzing the various reports and papers. Furthermore, this paper also discusses the role of active labor market policies and hiring incentives for promoting youth employment. Social implications: The paper finds that the times ahead are challenging ones. There is a dearth of productive job opportunities due to slow economic growth. The unemployment rate among youth and adults is high, and labor markets have become more competitive. The young generation is now left with no choice but to upgrade and improve their skill set or some other expertise. On the one hand, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and universities need to enhance their marketable knowledge and skills, and on the other hand, there is a need for active labor market policies to encourage their participation in the labor markets. Originality/value: This paper strongly contributes to highlighting the professional and societal hit backs faced due to the aftermath of COVID-19. The study summarizes the specific details of STWT and employment issues faced by youth in various parts of the world. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

The Great Resignation in the United States: A Study of Labor Market Segmentation

During 2021 and 2022, many news media outlets have reported that millions of workers in the United States have been quitting their jobs in record numbers. In a global economy rebounding from the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 outbreak and demanding more workers, a high rate of resignations has exacerbated labor shortages and may be aggravating unemployment and underemployment rates if many workers are not participating at all in the labor force or only working part time. Many reasons have been offered to explain this ‘Great Resignation' including high day care costs for working parents that may in turn be causing the trend of lower female labor force participation;the supposed ‘liberating' experience of not working at all or to work from home instead of having to work from one's usual work place during the Covid-19 quarantine/lockdown periods;stagnant/low wages and greater job tenure uncertainty which make working less attractive and more stressful;and the feeling by many of not wanting to work further for bad bosses or management who create bad work environments so that resignation becomes a means of escape from such conditions. This article analyses data of US labor trends since 2003 and demonstrates that resignations have been trending upward in the US aggregate economy and that quit rates mostly have been trending higher within many US industries. These phenomena can be explained by the concept of labor market segmentation, high unemployment, and underemployment rates that exist even in good economic times in some industries, minority group composition within industries, wage stagnation, and type of managerial supervision. Some of these same factors help to explain labor under-utilization greater than national/aggregate rates within these industries as well. © 2023 The Association for Social Economics.

Determinants of school to work transition and COVID-19

Purpose>This is Part 1 of the two special issues on the topic, "School to work transition around the world – the effect of the pandemic recession.” The first part focuses on the determinants of the school-to-work transition (STWT) and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the young worker and their response to uncertain labor market conditions. The second issue will explore the country-specific experiences around the globe in tackling the problem of a smooth STWT. The purpose of this introductory article is to elaborate on the transition of young workers in the labor market. Discussion on the status of various indicators of the youth labor market (unemployment, underemployment and not in employment, education and training [NEET]) is also integrated. The determining factors of school-to-work transition (STWT) and the role of technical and vocational institutions and universities are analyzed. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market is also evaluated. After the pandemic, there was a dreadful change in the job market;this study dives into those diverse factors and carves out the multiple impacts on youth unemployment.Design/methodology/approach>The study analyses relevant literature on STWT, NEET and COVID-19 implications for the labor market, based on the other papers in this special issue. Using the review method, the authors identified similar research articles and reports which helped in strengthening the study's argument. The primary focus of the study was on the smooth transition of young workers in the labor market and the impact of the pandemic on youth unemployment. Hence, literature supported the authors in giving the justifications from various economies and societies.Findings>The paper finds that youth worldwide have suffered from the repercussions of COVID-19, especially in their early career (STWT). Skill mismatch, underemployment, job losses, salary cut downs, health issues, vocational education importance, vulnerable employment, etc. were some of the significant impacts the authors identified by analyzing the various reports and papers. Furthermore, this paper also discusses the role of active labor market policies and hiring incentives for promoting youth employment.Social implications>The paper finds that the times ahead are challenging ones. There is a dearth of productive job opportunities due to slow economic growth. The unemployment rate among youth and adults is high, and labor markets have become more competitive. The young generation is now left with no choice but to upgrade and improve their skill set or some other expertise. On the one hand, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and universities need to enhance their marketable knowledge and skills, and on the other hand, there is a need for active labor market policies to encourage their participation in the labor markets.Originality/value>This paper strongly contributes to highlighting the professional and societal hit backs faced due to the aftermath of COVID-19. The study summarizes the specific details of STWT and employment issues faced by youth in various parts of the world.

Empleo informal y motivaciones intrínsecas para participar en la venta ambulante en la ciudad de Machala, Ecuador

In the city of Machala, it can be observed that the number of street vendors has been increasing after the pandemic caused by Covid-19, so this research aims to analyze the intrinsic motivations that create informal employment in the Ecuadorian city. To carry out this research, the motivations inherent to underemployment were reviewed from the theories of self-determination and informality. The research was descriptive and explanatory using cross-sectional data and a random sample. Surveys were carried out on 300 informal workers located in the busiest sectors in the city of Machala, the information collected was processed with the statistical program SPSS. The results of the surveys allow us to perceive that 67% of people between 18 and 50 years of age are heads of households, the great majority of whom are motivated by unemployment to carry out informal activities, with incomes below the unified basic salary, with lack of studies and with failures or errors at the time of the undertaking. In conclusion, the strongest determinant of intrinsic motivations for informal work is unemployment.Alternate :En la ciudad de Machala se puede observar que la afluencia de vendedores ambulantes ha ido incrementando luego de la pandemia ocasionada por el Covid-19, por lo que la presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar las motivaciones intrínsecas que crean el empleo informal en la ciudad ecuatoriana. Para realizar esta investigación se revisó las motivaciones inherentes al subempleo desde las teorías de la autodeterminación e informalidad. La investigación fue de tipo descriptiva y explicativa usando datos de corte transversal y con una muestra aleatoria. Se realizaron encuestas a 300 informales que se ubican en los sectores más concurridos en la ciudad de Machala, la información recopilada fue procesada con el programa estadístico SPSS. Los resultados de las encuestas permiten percibir que el 67% de las personas entre los 18 y 50 años de edad son jefes de hogar, motivados en su gran mayoría por el desempleo a realizar actividades informales, con ingresos por debajo del salario básico unificado, con falta de estudios y con fracasos o errores al momento de emprender. En conclusión, el determinante más fuerte de las motivaciones intrínsecas para el trabajo informal, es la desocupación laboral.Alternate :Na cidade de Machala, pode-se observar que o fluxo de vendedores ambulantes vem aumentando após a pandemia causada pelo Covid-19, portanto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar as motivações intrínsecas que criam empregos informais na cidade equatoriana. A fim de realizar esta pesquisa, as motivações inerentes ao subemprego foram revistas a partir das teorias da autodeterminação e da informalidade. A pesquisa foi descritiva e explicativa utilizando dados transversais e uma amostra aleatória. Foram realizadas pesquisas entre 300 trabalhadores informais localizados nos setores mais movimentados da cidade de Machala, e as informações coletadas foram processadas com o programa estatístico SPSS. Os resultados das pesquisas mostram que 67% das pessoas entre 18 e 50 anos de idade são chefes de família, em sua maioria motivados pelo desemprego para realizar atividades informais, com rendimentos abaixo do salário básico unificado, falta de educação e falhas ou erros no momento do empreendedorismo. Em conclusão, o fator determinante mais forte das motivações intrínsecas para o trabalho informal é o desemprego.

Precarious work and workplace dignity during COVID-19: A longitudinal study.

Building upon the psychology of working theory (PWT), the goal of the present study was to examine longitudinal relations among precarious work, workplace dignity, and basic need fulfillment (survival, social contribution, and self-determination needs). To examine our hypotheses, we surveyed a group of working adults in the United States three times over three months. However, the study began in March 2020 - before widespread lockdowns, layoffs, and furloughs - and some participants lost their jobs on subsequent waves during April and May 2020. Therefore, a secondary aim of the study was to explore predictors of job loss in the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that having precarious work in early March 2020 significantly predicted job loss due to COVID-19 in May 2020. For workers who remained employed during this time, greater precarious work predicting lower fulfillment of survival needs over time. In addition, workplace dignity and fulfillment of relatedness needs operated reciprocally, predicting greater levels of each other over time, and greater workplace dignity predicted greater fulfillment of social contribution, autonomy, and competence needs across time. These results expand PWT by suggesting that precarious work and workplace dignity are both important work conditions that predict fulfillment of different basic needs over time.

Underemployment and its Implications

The purpose of present study is to examine the effect of underemployment on individual, organisation, family and the whole community. Underemployment is an acute form of labor underutilization which negatively affects the whole economy. As compared to unemployment, it has received far less attention than it deserves. But with the outset of the COVID-19, it has become the major concern for most of the countries across the globe. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of underemployment and its implications. The findings reveal that both visible and invisible kinds of underemployment, not only impact the psychological well-being of individuals but they also affect their relationship with family, organisation and the whole society.

Public Health Impacts of Underemployment and Unemployment in the United States: Exploring Perceptions, Gaps and Opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Unemployment, underemployment, and the quality of work are national occupational health risk factors that drive critical national problems; however, to date, there have been no systematic efforts to document the public health impact of this situation. METHODS: An environmental scan was conducted to explore the root causes and health impacts of underemployment and unemployment and highlight multilevel perspectives and factors in the landscape of underemployment and unemployment. METHODS: included a review of gray literature and research literature, followed by key informant interviews with nine organizational representatives in employment research and policy, workforce development, and industry to assess perceived needs and gaps in practice. RESULTS: Evidence highlights the complex nature of underemployment and unemployment, with multiple macro-level underlying drivers, including the changing nature of work, a dynamic labor market, inadequate enforcement of labor protection standards, declining unions, wage depression, and weak political will interacting with multiple social determinants of health. Empirical literature on unemployment and physical, mental, and psychological well-being, substance abuse, depression in young adults, and suicides is quite extensive; however, there are limited data on the impacts of underemployment on worker health and well-being. Additionally, organizations do not routinely consider health outcomes as they relate to their work in workforce or policy development. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Several gaps in data and research will need to be addressed in order to assess the full magnitude of the public health burden of underemployment and unemployment. Public health needs to champion a research and practice agenda in partnership with multisector stakeholders to illuminate the role of employment quality and status in closing the gap on health inequities, and to integrate workforce health and well-being into labor and economic development agendas across government agencies and industry.

Estimating influences of unemployment and underemployment on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: who suffers the most?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether unemployment and underemployment are associated with mental distress and whether employment insecurity and its mental health consequences are disproportionately concentrated among specific social groups in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: This is a population-based longitudinal study. METHODS: Data came from the Understanding America Study, a population-based panel in the United States. Between April and May 2020, 3548 adults who were not out of the labor force were surveyed. Analyses using targeted maximum likelihood estimation examined the association of employment insecurity with depression, assessed using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and anxiety, measured with the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Stratified models were evaluated to examine whether employment insecurity and its mental health consequences are disproportionately concentrated among specific social groups. RESULTS: Being unemployed or underemployed was associated with increased odds of having depression (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-2.02) and anxiety (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.26, 1.79), relative to having a full-time job. Employment insecurity was disproportionately concentrated among Hispanics (54.3%), Blacks (60.6%), women (55.9%), young adults (aged 18-29 years; 57.0%), and those without a college degree (62.7%). Furthermore, Hispanic workers, subsequent to employment insecurity, experienced worse effects on depression (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.28, 3.40) and anxiety (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.24, 3.09). Those who completed high school or less reported worse depression subsequent to employment insecurity (AOR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.55, 3.85). CONCLUSIONS: Both unemployment and underemployment threaten mental health during the pandemic, and the mental health repercussions are not felt equally across the population. Employment insecurity during the pandemic should be considered an important public health concern that may exacerbate pre-existing mental health disparities during and after the pandemic.

Individual, interpersonal and economic challenges of underemployment in the wake of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has caused economic slowdown all across the globe. It results in job loss on the one hand and less wages, increased working hours, overqualified employees and part time jobs on the other hand. Low demand of labour and a huge availability of work force will put many in a disadvantageous position, where they will have to compromise with the circumstances by being underemployed. Cabinet decisions, by some Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, to suspend the labour laws related to minimum wage, bonus, working hours and other employee benefits will put workers in a highly disadvantageous position of being underemployed. This may lead to many socio-economic, psychological and health-related implications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review on the concept of underemployment, its types and consequences. METHODOLOGY: A critical and constructive analysis of the literature was performed. RESULTS: The findings reveal that if employment does not provide workers with proper opportunities to use their education, time, skills and expertise, it can create stressful situations in workers' lives. CONCLUSION: The problem needs both a diagnosis and robust treatment in order to have better outcomes at the individual, organisational and national levels.