Tuesday 27 September 2011

Skill: the solution to low wage work?

an article by Caroline Lloyd (School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University and SKOPE Senior Research Fellow) and Ken Mayhew (University of Oxford and Director of SKOPE) published in Industrial Relations Journal Volume 41 Issue 5 (September 2011)

Abstract

During the UK Labour government’s 13 years in power, raising skill levels was seen as the principal mechanism to improve the position of workers stuck in low wage jobs. This article draws together research undertaken in low wage sectors to question the assumptions that underlay Labour’s approach to low pay.

Hazel’s comment:
It is now obvious to many people that the raising of individual skill levels does not automatically raise individual income levels nor does the raising of skill levels in general have the large impact on GDP that we were told by the previous administration that it would.
An article worth reading in full if you can get hold of it through your institution.


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