Author Description

The extent and speed of boundary changes between and within occupations, organisations and industry sectors in the late 20th century requires new ways of conceptualising and exploring the world of work This volume attempts to chart recent employment change and the variables which have shaped it, drawing upon UK and comparative international research on national and local labour markets, organisations and particular occupational groups. The impact of economic, political and technological change on industries and organisations is related to socio-cultural change reflecting gender relations, the relationship between employment, education and skills, and changing employer policies and practices. By drawing together research findings that focus on different aspects of employment, at labour market, sectoral, organisational and occupational levels, it makes sense of how they fit together and provides a comprehensive and innovative series of pictures which illustrate the growing complexity of work relationships. It is wide-ranging in scope, covering both traditional manufacturing and services, and new forms of organisation and employment relations. This book will be a valuable resource for academics and students, and all those with an interest in human resource management, organisational behaviour and the sociology of business. The authors are all active researchers reporting on recently completed and ongoing research programmes in British universities. Kate Purcell is Director of the Employment Studies Research Unit at Bristol Business School and has been working across the boundaries of sociology, organisational studies, human resource management and interdisciplinary labour market analysis for nearly two decades.