BUSI42Q15: The Labour Market (EBS)

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• To provide students with a detailed understanding of how the labour market operates in relation to individuals and organisations, and its outcomes in terms of employment.

• Main concepts of labour economics including: what determines the demand for and supply of labour, how the market works in theory, under what circumstances it fails (and what this means), and the nature of government policy interventions;
• Changing patterns of employment and skills at a national/European and global scale, the factors driving these developments, and the way in which different groups (e.g. defined by gender, age, level of education etc) are affected;
• The role of firms/organisations in relation to the labour market, including how firm strategies with respect to the human resource management and work organisation influence the demand for labour and skill formation processes;
• The justification for and outcomes of public intervention in the labour market.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Critical knowledge and understanding of the main concepts of labour economics;
• Critical knowledge and understanding of changing patterns of employment and skills at a national/European and global scale;
• Critical awareness of the role of firms/organisations in relation to the labour market;
• Critical understanding of how policy interventions affect labour market outcomes.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to apply the knowledge gained in order to analyse labour market characteristics and change in terms of key measures and indicators.

Key Skills:

• Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; interpretation of data; using initiative; computer literacy including internet search.

• Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading. Modules are generally taught in 3 or 4 hour blocks each of which will typically be a mix of 'lecture-type' contact, small group work and discussions/feedback sessions.
• The summative assessment will be a case study based essay to test students understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply, analyse and interpret what they have learned to a particular situation.

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