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Melanie Jones

Professor Melanie Jones

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Media commentator
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Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Melanie Jones

Overview

Melanie joined Cardiff Business School in 2015 having previously held positions in the University of Sheffield and Swansea University. She is currently the Head of the Economics Section and member of CARBS Management Board.

Her research in empirical labour economics involves the quantitative analysis of large scale secondary data.  She has worked on a variety of policy relevant issues in collaboration with a range of external organisations including the Low Pay Commission and the Office of Manpower Economics the but has a particular interest in gender equality and the interaction between health and the labour market.

Her recent research has tried to answer questions such as Is the gender pay gap larger in the public or private sector? What can we learn from the narrow gender pay gap in Northern Ireland? Is there earnings discrimination against disabled individuals?  Do older workers have more accidents and injuries at work?  Do disabled individuals have a different perception of their treatment at work? She is committed to using this evidence to inform policy and practice such as through the collaboration disability@work: www.disabilityatwork.co.uk

This work has been published in high quality international journals such as Oxford Economic Papers, Economica, Economics Letters, Cambridge Journal of Economics, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Social Science and Medicine, and Work, Employment and Society.

Melanie is a member of the ESRC funded research centre WISERD, an IZA Research Fellow and lead for the ESRC Productivity Institute Wales Productivity Forum. She is an elected member of the Royal Economic Society Council and a member of the Trustee Board. She was a member of ESRC Grant Assessment Panel C (2021-2025) and is currently an editor at the British Journal of Industrial Relations and member of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. She is also an ONS Fellow, member of their Economic Experts Working Group and the theme lead for Economic Intelligence in the Cardiff University Strategic Partnership with the ONS. 

Publication

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2008

2007

2006

Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Monographs

Research

Primary research interests

  • Labour economics
  • The economics of disability
  • Regional economics
  • Health economics

Research projects

ESRC Productivity Institute Wales Productivity Forum https://www.productivity.ac.uk/regions-nations/wales-regional-forum/

Nuffield Foundation Musculoskeletal conditions, employment retention and job quality https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/project/musculoskeletal-conditions-employment-retention-and-job-quality

NIHR Creating Health Jobs https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/creatinghealthyjobs/

Teaching

Teaching commitments

  • BS2547 British Economy

Biography

Qualifications

  • PhD in Labour Economics, Swansea University
  • MSc  Business Economics, Swansea University
  • BSc Economics, Swansea University

Supervisions

I am interested in supervising students in the area of labour economics and have a particular interest in gender equality and health and disability at work.

Current supervision

John Poole

John Poole

Suzanna Nesom

Suzanna Nesom

Julia Diniz

Julia Diniz

Kelvis Merino Perez

Kelvis Merino Perez

News articles

Senior political figures gathered at Cardiff Business School for a high-profile National Productivity Week panel.

Productivity Week panel event brings cross-party debate on Welsh Economy

20 May 2026

Senior political figures gathered at Cardiff Business School for a high-profile National Productivity Week panel.

Academics have been busy helping us make sense of the issues that matter during the Senedd election period

What next for Wales?

08 May 2026

Academics have been busy helping us make sense of the issues that matter during the Senedd election period

15 academics from Cardiff University have achieved the prestigious honour of joining the Learned Society of Wales.

Learned Society of Wales welcomes new Fellows tackling key world challenges

28 April 2026

15 academics from Cardiff University have achieved the prestigious honour of joining the Learned Society of Wales.

On November 4, the Wales Forum of the Productivity Institute hosted a high-profile event examining the nation’s economic prospects at Cardiff Business School.

Insights into the Welsh Economy with Dr Thomas Nicholls

05 December 2025

On November 4, the Wales Forum of the Productivity Institute hosted a high-profile event examining the nation’s economic prospects at Cardiff Business School.

Cardiff Business School was proud to welcome students and academic staff from the prestigious New York University Stern School of Business.

Cardiff Business School strengthens global ties with NYU Stern visit

17 November 2025

Cardiff Business School was proud to welcome students and academic staff from the prestigious New York University Stern School of Business.

Cardiff Business School welcomed a delegation from Shanxi University of Finance and Economics (SXUFE) for a discussion on education, research, and partnership opportunities.

Cardiff Business School hosts Shanxi University of Finance and Economics to explore green transition and exchange opportunities

27 October 2025

Cardiff Business School welcomed a delegation from Shanxi University of Finance and Economics (SXUFE) for a discussion on education, research, and partnership opportunities.

Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, spoke at Cardiff Business School and set out her view on why the recent “hump” in inflation is unlikely to lead to additional inflationary pressure.

Cardiff Business School hosts the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Outlook

27 October 2025

Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, spoke at Cardiff Business School and set out her view on why the recent “hump” in inflation is unlikely to lead to additional inflationary pressure.

Academics from Cardiff Business School have played a key role in shaping a major Welsh Government report.

Cardiff Business School experts help drive change in disability employment

21 March 2025

Academics from Cardiff Business School have played a key role in shaping a major Welsh Government report.

Cardiff Business School’s Public Value Engagement Fellowship conference showcased inspiring projects addressing society's most pressing issues.

Conference showcases innovative projects addressing global societal challenges

23 October 2024

Cardiff Business School’s Public Value Engagement Fellowship conference showcased inspiring projects addressing society's most pressing issues.

A new study reveals employer discrimination in hiring between disabled and non-disabled job applicants in the UK.

UK study exposes widespread hiring bias against disabled job applicants

21 October 2024

A new study reveals employer discrimination in hiring between disabled and non-disabled job applicants in the UK.

Academics make recommendations which could improve its uptake

Shared Parental Leave fails to deliver for dads

12 September 2024

Academics make recommendations which could improve its uptake

Employers which reported largest gender pay gaps in 2018 have made the most progress

Gender pay gap narrows in organisations with largest disparities

22 June 2022

Employers which reported largest gender pay gaps in 2018 have made the most progress

Collaborative PhD to examine socio-economic impact of cancer

Diagnosis and recovery

28 November 2019

Collaborative PhD to examine socio-economic impact of cancer

Event brings together School’s Public Value stakeholders

Research for business, society and communities

20 October 2019

Event brings together School’s Public Value stakeholders

Major study to explore reasons for salary differences

Public sector gender pay gap

31 October 2018

Major study to explore reasons for salary differences

High calibre postgraduate researchers set for School

Studentship success

08 August 2018

High calibre postgraduate researchers set for School

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29208 75079
Campuses Aberconway Building, Room B32a, Colum Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EU

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Labour economics