Publications

To what extent are small companies making use of eWork? Are small and medium-sized enterprises practising eWork as frequently, or more often than, big companies? What are the comparative advantages and disadvantages of SMEs? This report addresses questions such as these, and looks at the role of SMEs in the new economy, in the changing international division of labour and the trade in information service activities. It uses the empirical findings of the EMERGENCE project to test a number of hypotheses on the position of SMEs, and to clarify their unique position in the new economy.

Part of the EMERGENCE project, this report draws on the empirical data of the 18-country employer survey and on the company case studies from the EMERGENCE project, to illustrate the diffusion of eWork in three Central European countries. It compares the use of eWork in these candidate countries, in terms of the practices of generic business services, with the EU (15) countries. Finally, this report calls attention to the important role of regulations in practising business services and also to the need for further research into the roles that micro and small firms can play in the e-economy.

A new global division of labour is emerging in knowledge work, as information and communications technologies introduce a new range of choices in who does what work, where and when. Work involving the processing of digitised information can now be carried out anywhere in the world, where the right skills and infrastructure exist. Between 2000 and 2003, the EMERGENCE project carried out research to map and measure these new trends. This final report summarises the results of a major 18-country survey, 62 in-depth case studies and a critical review of the evidence.

In March 2002, HERDA-SW, in association with SWRDA, commissioned IES to conduct a study to inform regional efforts to retain and recruit graduates for the benefits of the South West economy. The report profiles students in the South West, assesses their expectations, and describes how they transfer to the job market. In doing so, a picture emerges of the flow of graduates into and out of the SW labour market, and the reasons why graduates are, or are not, attracted and retained in the region.

The aim of this project was to identify a set of key indicators for mapping women's position relative to that of men across a wide range of areas, and to draw together reliable and robust statistics from different sources, to provide a comprehensive baseline for monitoring progress. It also outlined recent trends in these indicators, so future changes could be put into context. This publication is no longer available.

The Department of Trade and Industry and Home Office commissioned NOP Business and IES to explore the push and pull factors that affect the decision of skilled individuals to migrate to the UK. The study surveyed non-UK nationals from outside the European Economic Area who were recent arrivals in the UK, and working in four occupational categories that are part of global markets. This publication is no longer available.

This report maps the higher education labour market, identifying trends where possible, with a particular focus on skills issues. It reviews evidence for the whole workforce, and specifically for the higher education workforce, drawing on data from the Labour Force Survey (2001), the IES/HESDA employer survey (staff, skills, training and development in 2001), and the IRS/UCEA employer survey (staff recruitment and retention, 2001). This publication is no longer available.

There are many types of e-working, ranging from large, transnational contracts between organisations to local use of self-employed 'e-lancers'. E-working also facilitates various types of business outsourcing, an issue that has previously received little attention. To what extent are Irish organisations making use of this potential to relocate work? Which remote sites are being selected? What are the criteria used for selecting them? How does Ireland compare with other European countries in its use of e-work? And is Ireland an attractive destination for e-work originating from organisations in other countries?

In 2001 the EMERGENCE team carried out 62 case studies in 18 European countries, of organisations which had relocated or outsourced work to remote sites using new technologies. Each case study consisted of a 'source' in one region and a 'destination' in another region or country. Eight distinct types of relocation are identified. Many factors are involved in the choice of location, and successful relocation depends on technological, organisational and social factors. Relocation places considerable demands on personnel at both source and destination organisations and may require a complete overhaul of business processes.

This report draws on the results of the EMERGENCE 18-country employer study and combines them with data from European labour force surveys to develop models of eWorking. Four distinct types of 'individual' eWorkers are identified in the study: telehomeworkers, multilocational eWorkers, eLancers, and the eEnabled self-employed. The EMERGENCE team has developed forecasts for the spread of each of these individual forms of eWork over the next decade.