In this chapter we discuss one of the important features of the way Australia has experienced change in the way paid work is organised and distributed. We begin with what has been called ‘the Australian Settlement’. Australian governments from 1901 attempted to protect Australians from aspects of the world they found threatening—economic competition, economic insecurity or invasion by ‘coloured’ people. The Australian Settlement was especially successful between 1945 and 1975 when Australians enjoyed a long economic boom and full employment. Since the 1970s, we have seen changes to the way work is done, the kinds of work available and who has access to the labour market. We then develop a framework for thinking about the way work as we have known it is being transformed. The distribution of paid work is becoming more unequal. Full-time employment is disappearing as an option for some, people. Too much work is a problem for some, and too little or no work the problem for a large minority. We examine what unemployment is, and consider how it is defi ned and measured. We also ask what is wrong with the offi cial measurements of unemployment. Finally, we critically analyse some of the explanations for why unemployment and under-employment have become major social problems in countries like Australia.

Part One : What is Sociology?

Part Two: Identity

Part Three: Globalisation

Chapter 12: Australians at work

Further reading

Useful links