Unemployment and Subjective Well-Being: A Question of Class?

an article by Signe Hald Andersen (Rockwool Foundation Research Unit) in Work and Occupations Volume 36 Number 1 (2009)

Abstract
An analysis is conducted as to whether social class position matters for the negative change in subjective well-being experienced from unemployment. Theory on work identification and work conditions is used to formulate hypotheses on the differential impact on well-being of entering unemployment from different social classes. Data are analyzed from 14 waves of the British Household Panel Survey, and fixed effects methods are used. Main results are that the negative effect of job loss on subjective well-being is highest for individuals who are in the middle classes prior to becoming unemployed.

Hazel’s comment:


I read this as being a statement of the obvious: “Unemployment dents the egos of middle class people more than working class people”.



Then I realised that it is perhaps not obvious to all – rather along the lines of ”everybody knows that” said in an exasperated voice by my husband to me on a fairly regular basis (usually in connection with something techie to do with a computer). I'm not everybody and hey, I use the computer to do things.


Impact for guidance professionals is, I believe, that more time is required reassuring and building confidence – and, perhaps, helping the client to realise that the current new job is job hunting.

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