A presentation by Alan Felstead, Duncan Gallie, Francis Green and Lesley Giles.
Thursday 8 October 2015, 4.00-5.30 pm
The seminar will draw on a major new book which provides the first systematic assessment of long-term trends in inequality in job quality in Britain in recent decades. It assesses the pattern of change drawing on the nationally representative Skills and Employment Surveys (SES) carried out at regular intervals from 1986 to 2012. After summarising the core trends in job quality, the seminar will present main themes from the book, including gender, non-standard work, and private/public sectoral differences, and will conclude with a discussion of policy directions. Lesley Giles, from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills which funded the 2012 survey along with the ESRC LLAKES Centre, will end the presentation by offering some reflections on prospects for policy on job quality, and there will be plenty of time for discussion.
The book, which has contributions from multiple authors across several universities, is published by Oxford University Press. Beginning with a theoretical overview, the book examines how job quality differs between groups and across time. It offers both a historical perspective and an up-to-date picture, based on the voices and experiences of workers themselves. Its findings are especially relevant for the development of skills, training and job quality policies in the coming years.
The seminar will conclude with a reception (from 5.30pm) to mark the official launch of the book; discounted copies will be available.
The seminar and launch are free to attend, but prior registration would be helpful: to register, please contact to book a place. The events will be held at UCL Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL, in Committee Room 2 (on Level 4, behind the southern set of lifts).
About the Presenters
Professor Alan Felstead is Research Professor at Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University and Visiting Professor at the UCL Institute of Education.
Professor Duncan Gallie is Professor of Sociology, University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford.
Professor Francis Green is Professor of Work and Education Economics at the UCL Institute of Education.
Lesley Giles is Deputy Director at the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Unequal Britain at Work: Table of Contents
- Francis Green, Alan Felstead and Duncan Gallie. “The Inequality Of Job Quality In Britain”
- Duncan Gallie. “Class Inequality At Work: Trends to Polarisation?”.
- Jo Lindley. “Gender Differences In Job Quality And Job Polarisation”.
- Tracey Warren and Clare Lyonette. “The Quality Of Part-Time Work”.
- Hande Inanc. “Old puzzle revisited: Stepping stone or trap? Skill use and skill development in temporary employment in Britain”.
- Ben Baumberg and Nigel Meager. “Job Quality And The Self-Employed: Is It (Still) Better To Work For Yourself?”
- Alex Bryson and Francis Green. “Unions and Job Quality”.
- David Blackaby, Alan Felstead, Melanie Jones, Gerry Makepeace, Phil Murphy and Victoria Wass. “Is The Public Sector Pay Advantage Explained By Differences In Work Quality?”.
- Andy Charlwood. “The Employee Experience of High Involvement Management in Britain 2001 – 2012”.
- Alan Felstead, Duncan Gallie and Francis Green. “Policies for Intrinsic Job Quality”.
About the Editors
Alan Felstead Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University.
Duncan Gallie Nuffield College, Oxford University.
Francis Green LLAKES Centre, Institute of Education.
About the Authors
Ben Baumberg School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent.
David Blackaby School of Business and Economics, Swansea University.
Alex Bryson National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
Andy Charlwood Business School, University of Loughborough.
Hande Inanc OECD.
Joanne Lindley School of Economics, University of Surrey.
Clare Lyonette Institute for Employment Research, Warwick University.
Melanie Jones School of Business and Economics, Swansea University.
Nigel Meager Institute for Employment Studies.
Gerry Makepeace Business School, Cardiff University.
Philip Murphy School of Business and Economics, Swansea University.
Tracey Warren School of Sociology and Social Policy, Nottingham University.
Victoria Wass Business School, Cardiff University.
Joanne Lindley School of Economics, University of Surrey.
Clare Lyonette Institute for Employment Research, Warwick University.
Melanie Jones School of Business and Economics, Swansea University.
Nigel Meager Institute for Employment Studies.
Gerry Makepeace Business School, Cardiff University.
Philip Murphy School of Business and Economics, Swansea University.
Tracey Warren School of Sociology and Social Policy, Nottingham University.
Victoria Wass Business School, Cardiff University.