Abstract
It is suggested that an hourglass-shaped occupational structure is emerging in the UK, with the polarization of jobs at top and bottom of the occupational hierarchy. Despite the implicit suggestion that jobs in the middle appear to be disappearing, somewhat paradoxically, there are ever-increasing reports of problems with recruitment and skill across intermediate occupations.This article attempts to address the paradox and propose better ways of conceptualizing what is happening to intermediate occupations within recent structural transformations. It is argued that while the hourglass economy thesis, or a variation of it, best describes recent occupational transformations, it is limited conceptually and empirically. More specifically, it neglects important dimensions of change within intermediate occupations — dimensions that may well provide a more fruitful foundation from which to explore the nature of and developments within these jobs and their broader repercussions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 169-180 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Work Employment and Society |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2009 |
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Keywords
- hourglass economy thesis
- intermediate occupations
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Intermediate occupations and the conceptual and empirical limitations of the hourglass economy thesis. / Anderson, Pauline.
In: Work Employment and Society, Vol. 23, No. 1, 01.03.2009, p. 169-180.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Intermediate occupations and the conceptual and empirical limitations of the hourglass economy thesis
AU - Anderson, Pauline
N1 - <p>Originally published in: Work Employment and Society (2009), 23 (1), pp.169-180.</p>
PY - 2009/3/1
Y1 - 2009/3/1
N2 - It is suggested that an hourglass-shaped occupational structure is emerging in the UK, with the polarization of jobs at top and bottom of the occupational hierarchy. Despite the implicit suggestion that jobs in the middle appear to be disappearing, somewhat paradoxically, there are ever-increasing reports of problems with recruitment and skill across intermediate occupations.This article attempts to address the paradox and propose better ways of conceptualizing what is happening to intermediate occupations within recent structural transformations. It is argued that while the hourglass economy thesis, or a variation of it, best describes recent occupational transformations, it is limited conceptually and empirically. More specifically, it neglects important dimensions of change within intermediate occupations — dimensions that may well provide a more fruitful foundation from which to explore the nature of and developments within these jobs and their broader repercussions.
AB - It is suggested that an hourglass-shaped occupational structure is emerging in the UK, with the polarization of jobs at top and bottom of the occupational hierarchy. Despite the implicit suggestion that jobs in the middle appear to be disappearing, somewhat paradoxically, there are ever-increasing reports of problems with recruitment and skill across intermediate occupations.This article attempts to address the paradox and propose better ways of conceptualizing what is happening to intermediate occupations within recent structural transformations. It is argued that while the hourglass economy thesis, or a variation of it, best describes recent occupational transformations, it is limited conceptually and empirically. More specifically, it neglects important dimensions of change within intermediate occupations — dimensions that may well provide a more fruitful foundation from which to explore the nature of and developments within these jobs and their broader repercussions.
KW - hourglass economy thesis
KW - intermediate occupations
U2 - 10.1177/0950017008099785
DO - 10.1177/0950017008099785
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 169
EP - 180
JO - Work, Employment and Society
JF - Work, Employment and Society
SN - 0950-0170
IS - 1
ER -