Economic restructuring and the polarisation of the workforce: a regional perspective

Closely associated with rising non-standard forms of work, under-employment and a lack of opportunity for young and new labour market entrants, workforce polarisation is an increasingly pervasive feature of economically restructuring regions. Recent scholarship regarding the causes of workforce polarisation has diverged, particularly since the global financial crisis (GFC). While most explanations for job polarisation rest with technological advancements, growing interregional economic divergence within nations suggests that the extent of job polarisation is pre-determined by historical socioeconomic and industry structures. Other perspectives include the rise of the services sector and changes to the social organisation of care. Efforts to understand and project changes to the occupational distribution need a localised, regional lens. This article presents the evidence and discusses the implications of heightened job polarisation for Tasmania, Australia, pre and post GFC. Marked within skill level and occupation group changes, including increased spare capacity within the workforce, present considerable challenges for policy-makers.