Labour Market Effects of Bushfires and Floods in Australia: A Gendered Perspective

Abstract

We study the labour market effects of bushfires and floods within Australia over the past two decades, focusing on gender as a determinant of vulnerability. Whilst floods unambiguously increased the labour supply of both genders (creating around 13,500 jobs per year), the likelihood of female employment is particularly vulnerable to bushfires, falling by 1.6 percentage points (or around 5,000 jobs per year). This effect is partially explained by industry sector, with bushfires lifting overall male employment through industries including mining and transport, while reducing more female-dominated services sector participation. We also examine intrahousehold dynamics, finding strong evidence for an ‘added worker’ effect.