Earlier this summer, four economists released a working paper suggesting that part of the decline in male labor-force participation can be attributed to the increased quality of video games. You can see an article about it here, and you can also see a non-technical summary of the paper as part of the NBER digest.
Conceptually at least, this makes sense- better leisure activities increase the opportunity cost of working, which decreases the net benefit of working, and generally we do less of something when it's perceived as less beneficial. As the article notes, this could lead to an increase in happiness for the non-working men (though perhaps not for those around them!) despite lower work hours/income if they like the video games more than they like what else they could get with the income from working. (In other words, the video game choice, if it exists, isn't necessarily irrational.)
Not surprisingly, some people have their doubts about this finding, and there is additional disagreement about the social and policy implications of such a conclusion. I think I fall into this camp to some degree, but the additional evidence in the link above makes it difficult for me to ignore the link between video games and male labor-force participation at a more general level.
I assume, like any good capitalist, he's now living off of the interest on all those gold coins he's collected.
You can also see the post on the original site here.
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Labor Hiring and Supply Solution in Australia: What You Need to Know
Australia's construction, logistics, mining, and manufacturing sectors rely heavily on skilled and semi-skilled labor. Whether you're a business in need of reliable manpower or an individual looking to work in Australia, understanding the labor hiring and supply landscape is essential.
This guide breaks down the essentials—from regulations to recruitment and what both employers and job seekers should know.
Understanding Labor Hiring and Supply in Australia
Labor hiring and supply refers to the process where a third-party company (a labor hire agency) supplies workers to a host employer. These workers are typically employed by the agency but work under the supervision of the host business.
Labor supply companies are used across sectors such as:
Construction and civil works
Warehousing and logistics
Events and hospitality
Agriculture and seasonal farming
Mining and resource extraction
If You Want to Work in Australia: Steps to Get Started
Australia is a popular destination for workers due to its fair wages, strong workplace protections, and career opportunities. Here's how you can begin:
1. Check Visa Eligibility
To legally work in Australia, you need a valid visa. Common work visas include:
Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa – Subclass 482
Working Holiday Visa – Subclass 417 or 462
Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189
Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186
Visit immi.homeaffairs.gov.au to find the right visa based on your qualifications.
2. Prepare Your Documents
Updated resume/CV in Australian format
Certified copies of qualifications
Identity documents and English test results (if applicable)
3. Register with a Labor Hire Agency
Look for licensed and compliant labor hire agencies. Many companies like A1 Group Services specialize in connecting workers with construction, logistics, and industrial roles.
4. Undergo Safety Training (White Card, etc.)
For roles like construction, a White Card (General Construction Induction Training) is mandatory. Agencies or employers can guide you through this process.
If You’re Hiring a Labor Supply Company: What to Consider
Outsourcing labor can save time and reduce administrative burden. However, it’s important to choose the right labor hire partner.
1. Licensing and Compliance
In states like Queensland and Victoria, labor hire providers must be licensed. Ask for proof of:
Labor hire license
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) compliance
Fair Work compliance and proper employment contracts
2. Industry Expertise
Choose a company that understands your industry. For example:
For civil and construction: Look for providers with white-carded, PPE-equipped laborers.
For logistics: Ensure workers have forklift or high-reach certifications.
For events: Look for flexible, short-notice staffing capability.
3. Transparency in Costs and Contracts
A professional labor supplier will give you:
Clear breakdowns of labor rates
No hidden costs
Detailed contracts outlining roles, duration, and scope of services
4. Responsiveness and Reliability
Can they provide labor on short notice? Do they conduct background and reference checks? These questions help determine service reliability.
Benefits of Working with a Labor Hire Company
Whether you’re a job seeker or a business, labor supply agencies offer real value.
For Workers:
Easier access to jobs across different industries
Career progression opportunities
Weekly pay and workplace support
For Employers:
Faster workforce scaling
Reduced HR overhead
Flexible staffing for short- or long-term projects
Conclusion
Labor hiring and supply in Australia is a well-regulated and essential part of many industries. For workers, it opens doors to employment opportunities. For businesses, it provides scalable and compliant staffing solutions.
Whether you're seeking your first job in Australia or sourcing manpower for a new project, understanding the process helps you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes
Economist Gerard Minack this week published a brilliant analysis explaining how nearly 20 years of historically high immigration has wrecked
“Per capita GDP growth was low, productivity growth tepid, real wages were stagnant, and housing increasingly unaffordable. There were many reasons for the mess, but the most important was a giant capital-to-labour switch: Australia relied on increasing labour supply, rather than increasing investment, to drive growth”.
“Australia’s population-led growth model was a demonstrable failure in the 15 years prior to the pandemic. Remarkably, the country now seems to be doubling down on the same strategy. The result, unsurprisingly, is likely to be more of the same”, warns Minack.
Australia's policy is a key reason why Australia recorded the world’s worst decline in real per capita household disposable income last financial year, according to an analysis of OECD data by The AFR’s Michael Read:
The below Deutsche Bank chart posted on Wednesday by David Taylor at The ABC shows that Australia has also experienced the largest three-year collapse in household disposable income, alongside the second weakest 10-year growth:
The US has plenty of licensed truck drivers, but there's a shortage of well-paying jobs that would entice them to stay in the trucking industry.
This just in: Raising Wages & Improving Benefits Results in More Job Applicants and Better Employee Retention. Wow, who knew?!
It’s tiring to hear companies whine about lack of applicants or being ‘short staffed and having to close early’ and pointing to some great exodus. Total BULLSHIT.
These loser companies are basically announcing to their customers and future job applicants that they are unwilling to raise wages / offer better benefits in the face of stiff competition from other companies who offer better pay & better jobs.
Reader: Next time you see a sign posted in a window claiming “Please Be Patient, we’re short staffed and have reduced hours” - just know that this is a loser business owner who failed Econ 101 and hasn’t figured out how to compete by raising wages.
You want more staff? You want to fill that vacancy?
RAISE YOUR WAGES AND BENEFITS!
If you can’t compete, go ahead and whine about external causes, but eventually your remaining staff will quit from exhaustion and then you as the owner will have no choice but to close your doors because you lost the game.
Welcome to Reality.
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Trucking wages have risen 6.7% since April, when the American covid-19 epidemic began in earnest, according to BLS figures. The number of working truckers is, accordingly, up 7%. When trucking companies raised wages in the runup to the 2020 holiday shopping season, trucking employment went up. When trucking companies cut wages immediately after, employment went down.
...
Driver pay is important, but ultimately it’s just one part of the equation. To solve this problem, the trucking industry will have to offer more competitive wages and working conditions—and the US will have to invest in infrastructure improvements to alleviate some of the hardships that drive truckers out of the industry.
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Our labors are notably talented. The point that we have a lot of building maintenance services to pick from acts that our specialist maintenance labor can quickly operate between various sorts of maintenance tasks. Our home maintenance staff can do the maintenance tasks for quite a lot of jobs including painting, plumbing, & a lot of other services.
A labor market in which there is only one firm demanding labor is called a monopsony. The single firm in the market is referred to as the monopsonist. An example of a monopsony would be the only firm in a “company town,” where the workers all work for that single firm. Wage‐searching behavior. Because the monopsonist is the sole de‐mander of labor in the market, the monopsonist’s demand for labor…
Labor Demand & Supply in Perfectly Competitive Market
Labor Demand & Supply in Perfectly Competitive Market
In addition to making output and pricing decisions, firms must also determine how much of each input to demand. Firms may choose to demand many different kinds of inputs. The two most common are labor and capital. The demand and supply of labor are determined in the labor market.The participants in the labor market are workers and firms. Workers supply labor to firms in exchange…
