ABSTRACT
The last two decades have witnessed major economic restructuring in China, Taiwan and Vietnam, a prolonged recession in Japan, and the Asian Crisis that particularly affected Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. These events have all taken place within an increasingly globalised world and have had a significant impact on business activities in these economies, which in turn have impacted on employment. Yet, while much attention has been focused on the restructuring and development of these economies1 (World Bank 1993; Leipziger 1997; McLeod and Garnaut 1998) and the accompanying changes in business structures, management practices and global competitiveness, surprising little attention has been placed on how such transitions have impacted on employment opportunities and unemployment.
