The Quality of Work in a Changing Labour Market

an article by Duncan Gallie (Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK) published in Social Policy & Administration Volume 52 Number 2 (March 2017)

Abstract

There have been sharply contrasting scenarios of the long-term pattern of change in the quality of work and employment in the advanced societies.

Three broad perspectives have dominated enquiry in the last three decades:

• an optimistic tradition emphasizing progressive improvement in skills and the quality of work;
• a pessimistic tradition underlining emerging threats to employment and job quality; and, lastly,
• an institutional tradition pointing to long-term structural differences between societies.

We start by briefly outlining some of the key contrasts between these scenarios and then review the current state of empirical research with respect to three key aspects of the quality of work and employment: the structure of skills; the intrinsic quality of work in terms of job control and work intensity; and, lastly, job insecurity.

Full text (PDF)

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Challenges for adult skill formation in the globalising learning economy – a European perspective

an article by Bengt-Åke Lundvall and Palle Rasmussen (Aalborg University, Denmark) published in International Journal of Lifelong Education Volume 35 (2016)

Abstract

The globalising learning economy driven by more intense competition and the wide use of information and communication technologies is characterised by rapid change in technologies and markets. At the level of labour markets and within enterprises, this is reflected in continuous change in skill requirements for employees.

This is true for all parts of the world economy.

In this paper, the focus is on Europe and developments in the first decade of the new millennium. The major challenge for Europe is to counter the inherent trend, reinforced by the crisis, towards unequal access to learning both in work and in education. Without a new new deal that gives privileged access to vocational education and training for those with little education, the economic performance of Europe will be undermined.

Such a new new deal must be a fundamental element in the effort to lift Europe out of its current crisis.

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A web survey analysis of subjective well-being

an article by Martin Guzi (Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic) and Pablo de Pedraza García (University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands AND Universidad de Salamanca, Spain) published in International Journal of Manpower Volume 36 Issue 1 (2015)

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of work conditions and job characteristics with respect to three subjective well-being (SWB) indicators: life satisfaction, job satisfaction and satisfaction with work-life balance. From a methodological point of view, the paper shows how social sciences can benefit from the use of voluntary web survey data.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper makes use of a large sample of individual data obtained from voluntary web surveys collected as part of the WageIndicator project. The sample includes extensive information on the quality of working conditions together with different well-being indicators. The propensity score adjustment weights are used to improve the sample performance.

Findings
The results shed light on the importance of certain job characteristics not only in determining job satisfaction, but also in other SWB domains. The findings support the theory of spillover perspectives, according to which satisfaction in one domain affects other domains.

Research limitations/implications
As a voluntary web-survey, WageIndicator is affected by selection bias. The validity of the sample can be improved by weighting, but this adjustment should be made and tested on a country-by-country basis.

Originality/value
The paper provides analysis of the quality of a web survey not commonly used in happiness research. The subsequent presentation of the effects of working conditions on several satisfaction domains represents a contribution to the literature.

JEL codes: J28, J81

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Job preferences and the intrinsic quality of work: the changing attitudes of British employees 1992–2006

an article by Duncan Gallie (University of Oxford, UK), Alan Felstead (Cardiff University, UK) and Francis Green (Institute of Education, UK) published in Work Employment & Society Volume 26 Number 5 (October 2012)

Abstract

The value that employees attach to the intrinsic aspects of work is important for whether or not job quality issues should have a central place on the social agenda.

This article examines whether the importance that British employees attach to intrinsic job quality changed between 1992 and 2006. It uses two nationally representative surveys of employees. It finds no evidence to support the view that there has been a shift towards instrumental job preferences.

On the contrary, it shows that intrinsic job preferences rose over the period.

The growth in importance of intrinsic orientations is associated with rising levels of education and parental encouragement in education, the improvement of people’s jobs with respect to skill, learning opportunities and employee involvement and higher incomes and security.

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Links between quality of work and performance

via Eurofound Publications

This report is based on 21 case studies in four sectors:

• electromechanical engineering
• food manufacturing
• financial services and insurance activities, and 
• wholesale and retail

in six countries:

• Austria
• the Czech Republic
• Germany
• France
• Spain, and
• Sweden.

The aim of this research was to investigate whether and how improvement of the quality of work can boost employee and establishment’s performance. Results indicate that the clearest link between quality of work and performance relates to training, skills and employability. Training contributes to improved performance mostly through increased ability to use technology and to meet customer demands. Training is also used when the potential alternative, recruitment, is a less optimal investment.

An executive summary (PDF 2pp) is available.

The full report ref: ef1120 (PDF 75pp) has some clear, explanatory graphs and charts.

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