David McCollum

Research Interests

Labour markets, the welfare state and labour migration

I am an early career researcher who has an interest in issues relating to labour markets, the welfare state and labour migration. In my current role I am responsible for designing, implementing and analysing research involving labour market aspects of East-Central European migration to the UK. This involves analysis of secondary data from sources such as the Worker Registration Scheme and primary data collection in sites throughout the UK. My doctoral research investigated the processes that are responsible for work-welfare 'cycling' and evaluated measures that can potentially better promote sustainable employment. This research involved complex analysis of longitudinal datasets including the British Household Panel Survey and the Longitudinal Labour Force Survey and over 130 semi-structured interviews with employment service providers, their clients and local employers in two area case study sites (Glasgow and Dundee). I have previously carried out research into Scots migration to and from the South East of England and the gendered aspects of labour migration and have experience of a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. I recently undertook a three month internship with the Office of the Chief Researcher at the Scottish Government through the ESRC Internship scheme, where I undertook an analysis of Scots return migration using the Scottish Longitudinal Study. My future research plans are to build on my existing expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods through further examination of the processes that produce and reinforce societal inequalities. I have a particular enthusiasm for using my research skills and experience to aid the development and evaluation of policy interventions that are designed to combat social exclusion.

Academic Background

Appointments

McCollum, D. (in press). 'Precarious transitions and labour market disadvantage: using longitudinal datasets to explain the nature of work-welfare cycling'. Regional Studies (forthcoming).

McCollum, D. and Findlay, A. (2011). Employer and labour provider perspectives on Eastern European migration to the UK. Centre for Population Change Working Paper Number 14.

Graham E, Findlay, A, Manley D, McCollum D, Popham F and van Ham M (2011). Scotland's Census as a Research Resource. Scotland's Population 2010: The Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends, 156th Edition, Chapter 10, pp. 73-87, published 5 August 2011.

McCollum, D. and Findlay, A. (2011). 'Trends in A8 migration to the UK during the recession'. Population Trends Edition Number 145. pp 1-13.

McCollum, D. (2011). The Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile of Return Migrants and Long-Term In-Migrants in Scotland: Evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study. Scottish Government Social Research. The Scottish Government. Edinburgh.

Findlay, A. Geddes, A. and McCollum, D (2010). 'International Migration and Recession'. Scottish Geographical Journal.

Findlay, A. Mason, C. Houston, D. McCollum. D, and Harrison, R. (2009). 'Escalators, Elevators and Travelators: The Occupational Mobility of Migrants to South-East England'. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies Vol 35 Issue 6. pp 861-879.

Findlay, A. Mason, C. Harrison, R. Houston, D. and McCollum, D. (2008). 'Getting off the escalator? A study of Scots out-migration from a global city region'. Environment & Planning A Volume 40 Issue 9. pp 2169-2185.

Conference proceedings

August 2011. Towards (un)sustainable employment? Exploring policy responses to work-welfare cycling. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers annual conference. London.

August 2011. The production and reproduction of migrant spaces: the case of East European migrant labour in the UK. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers annual conference. London.

June 2011 International labour market recruitment processes, constructing difference in rural labour markets. 6th International Conference on Population Geographies. Umea University, Sweden.

September 2010 International Labour Mobility - The Case of East-Central European Migration to the UK. Centre for Population Change Annual Meeting, Southampton.

September 2009 The Economic Impact of Return Migration, Out-Migration and Long-Term In-Migrants in Scotland: Evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study. Demography Analytical Working Group, The Scottish Government

August 2009 Agency, Structure and Sustainable Employment. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers annual conference. Manchester.

December 2008 Sustainable Employment and Employment Instability. Hosted seminar at the Wise Group headquarters, Glasgow.

August 2008 Investigating work-welfare cycling; a Glasgow case study. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers annual conference. London.

May 2008 Employment instability; characteristics, causes and countermeasures. Economic Geography Research Group Postgraduate Symposium. University of Manchester.

March 2008 Employment instability; characteristics, causes and countermeasures. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers Postgraduate Forum mid-term conference. University of Liverpool

February 2007 Inserting space and scale into social policy research on the work-welfare-gender nexus. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers Postgraduate Forum mid-term conference. University of Edinburgh gender nexus. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers Postgraduate Forum mid-term conference. University of Edinburgh