Labour Hire in Australia: Motivation, Dynamics and Prospects

Abstract

The growth in labour hire in Australia over the past decade has been one of the most dramatic aspects of the more general proliferation of non-standard employment. While considerable Australian and overseas research effort has been devoted to the explanation of the growth in non-standard employment relatively little is known about the reasons for the growth in the particular forms of labour hire that have come to prominence in Australia. Relying on anecdotal, case study and survey evidence this chapter attempts to explore some of the key stimulants of the labour hire industry in Australia by examining the range of employer motivations that appear to drive what is fundamentally a demand-side phenomenon. On the basis of this analysis and assessment, the chapter then considers the future prospects for the industry in terms of emerging policy responses.