Patterns of employment

Question 1

How are gender roles in the workplace changing?

Answer 1

Gender roles are changing due to the increased participation of women. Women often work even after they have a child because their role often extends past being a homemaker

Question 2

What is the effect of gender roles changing on the economy and businesses?

Answer 2

The lack of a clear homemaker means that childcare and home maintenance businesses have increased. Moreover, there are more flexible work options because companies must accommodate for more parental leave. Finally, there are more work-life balance initiatives in workplaces now, such as workplace childcares and work-at-home options.

Question 3

How has the economy changed in the recent past? (excluding gender)

Answer 3

1. Rise of the sharing economy
2. Globalisation
3. Impact of tech on the nature of work - new jobs created and old jobs removed. This also means there is more connectivity, which can lead to more working hours outside the office
4. Job security is on the fall as there is more competition
5. Career lengths are as short as ever at 3.3 years being the average tenure
6. Shift in availability of jobs - blue-collar jobs are hiring substantially less people and service industries are seeing more people work there
7. Working hours - officially at a downward trend, this is undermined by many people being forced to interact with work outside of working hours