This article looks at mobile employment, ethnic economies, and the informal economy: three segments of local labour markets that have received little attention from urban studies and in local authority practice, and whose special dynamic makes them extremely important for the city. Despite the differences between them, these areas are sometimes closely interwoven. Even if each may not be particularly big, taken together they constitute an important share of urban labour markets. The article describes the structures and outlines the development of each segment. The aim is to call attention to these neglected aspects of local labour markets and foster greater awareness of developments. Hypotheses on development trends and on local authority options for action are also advanced.

This article is part of a current issue of the German Journal of Urban Studies on the Future of Work in the Cities. Other articles of this issue cover “Europe and Local Authorities: Labour-market and Employment Policy”, “Local Employment Policy: Challenge for Local Government Strategy and Practice” and “Options for Merging Unemployment Assistance and Social Assistance”. A free English online-version is available.

The authors’ chief recommendation with regard to the segments mobile employment, ethnic economies, and the informal economy is – subject to the illegality of certain activities – more “enablement” and less “prevention” in policy.

German Institute of Urban Affairs: Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (Difu)
Holger Floeting, tel. +49 30 39001 221

01/10/2003

Holger Floeting, Dietrich Henckel

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Employment