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Research Theme: Business and IndustryX
BCEC Monthly Labour Market Update – April 2025
Almost 90,000 additional jobs generated last month, according to April Labour Force Survey estimates. Female participation rate rebounds 0.5ppt, returns to record high of 63.4 per cent. Real wages up by 0.9 per cent in the year to the March... Read article

University student debts and the cost-of-living crisis: What are the major parties offering to young Australians?
There is a broad consensus that the cost-of-living ‘crisis’ is the foremost issue on voters’ minds as we head toward the May 3 Federal election. Declining housing affordability is one key area in which household budgets are being stretched, whether... Read article

Workplace policy responses to family and domestic violence: Assessing employers’ costs and benefits of providing 10 days paid leave
Organisational measures to support employees who are experiencing family and domestic violence (FDV) are increasingly seen as an important policy response to mitigate the consequences of such violence and promote gender equality. However, little is known about the costs to... Read article

BCEC Monthly Labour Market Update – March 2025
A modest rebound in employment after February’s surprise fall in jobs. Unemployment remains low and stable. Global uncertainty adding to likelihood of a May interest rate cut. Labour market steady in pre-election jobs figures The key interest in the labour... Read article

Trade and US Tariffs: Explainer and lessons for Australia
This BCEC Federal Election 2025 Briefing Note assesses trade and US tariffs, including an explanation and learnings for Australia. Through the imposition of trade tariffs, the US administration has fundamentally disrupted the global economic landscape, posing new challenges to economies... Read article

Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Annual Report 2024
In 2024, the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre made significant strides in building its national reputation while continuing to address key economic and social issues in Western Australia. Our research and policy advice gained greater visibility and influence at both state... Read article

Greener horizons: Economic freedom as a catalyst for the global energy transition
Major advanced and emerging economies are setting targets to achieve an ambitious net zero emission target plan by 2050 to address climate change and ensure sustainable development. However, achieving this transition requires significant structural changes not only in energy mixes... Read article

Mining and mistrust in government
Natural resource extraction can undermine institutions through its negative impact on corruption and public goods provision, potentially affecting individual trust in local government. We examine this conjecture by combining geo-referenced survey data with spatial data on mine locations across 28... Read article

BCEC Monthly Labour Market Update – February 2025
— Surprise 52,800 drop in the number of persons employed. — — Unemployment rate remains at 4.1 per cent thanks to big drop in participation. — — Direction of labour market difficult to read amidst volatility and revisions to previous... Read article

BCEC Monthly Labour Market Update – January 2025
— Participation records keep tumbling as female participation rate jumps 0.5 percentage points to 63.5 per cent. — — Jobs growth solid, unemployment rate up from 4.0 per cent to 4.1 per cent. — — A further interest rate cut... Read article

BCEC Monthly Labour Market Update – December 2024
— Unemployment rate creeps back to 4 per cent, despite strong jobs growth. — — Male participation rate the highest in over a decade, up 0.3ppt to 71.4 per cent. — — The renewables transition may be starting to show... Read article

Monthly Labour Market Update – November 2024
— Unemployment rate back below 4 per cent on the back of solid rise in full-time jobs. — — Participation falls marginally to 67.0 per cent, down from record high 67.1 per cent. — — Signs of increased industrial action... Read article
