The Call for Papers is now open.

Theme: Labour underutilisation, skill shortages, and social inclusion - three sides of the same coin.

Please read the following information and prepare an Abstract of 100-200 words. Please note the deadline of September 1, 2008 for submission of abstracts to refereed stream and September 29, 2009, for submission of abstracts to the non refereed stream.

Papers are particularly welcome in the following research and policy areas:

• What is full employment? How is it defined and measured? How close are we to achieving full employment? What are the challenges that remain?
• The increasing problem of underemployment and marginal workers.
• The increased precariousness of work.
• How can the new Federal Government's social inclusion agenda be designed and implemented.
• The skills shortage debate - what is the extent of the problem and what are the solutions? Who should be responsible for skills development?
• The challenge of the VET system - is a competitive VET market the best way to develop skills?
• Employment guarantees - why are several countries now turning to Job Guarantee-type policies to combat poverty and unemployment? What are the lessons for Australia?
• Why do disparities in regional labour markets persist? What is the extent of the problem and its solutions? Spatial patterns of work and housing.
• Long term, youth, disabled and indigenous unemployment.
• Welfare to work issues.

Special workshops

There will be four special workshops and researchers and policy makers are invited to submit papers and/or proposals if they wish to present at these workshops.

• Workshop 1: Creating effective employment solutions for Australian regions.
• Workshop 2: Enhancing employment opportunities for the mentally disabled.

Deadline for abstracts

You will find detailed paper submission guidelines HERE

The relevant dates for abstract submission are as follows:

• Presenters may elect to have their paper considered for the refereed or the non-refereed stream. Refereed papers will be included in a printed volume of conference proceedings (which will constitute a referred conference paper under Australian government rules).
• Abstracts for the refereed stream should be submitted by September 1, 2007.
• Abstracts for the non-refereed stream should be submitted by September 29, 2007.

Abstracts should be submitted to the CofFEE office.