Chapter 12 Key Terms

division of labor

specialization of individuals into different tasks in an economic system or an organization

labor market

process through which workers and employers find each other

there is not a single labor market, different occupations have their own labor markets

changes in labor markets by occupations and industries

manufacturing jobs declined from 32% to less than 9%

professional services increased from 3% to 29%

skilled labor force declined since 1950s

service and sale/clerical jobs increased

professional occupations increase steadily since 1930s

post-industrial society

economic growth is not generated by producing goods but by knowledge and professional expertise

gig economy

things like Uber, DoorDash, Airbnb, Instacart

self-employment

appeared to be in a decline with large companies dominating the economy

traditional self-employment has decreased, but other types have increased including professional freelancers and low-income, marginal informal self-employment (in-home childcare or day labor)

companies are outsourcing work to self-employed people (saves money, no benefits or job security)

labor process

describe how jobs are organized and controlled by managers and bosses from above

deskilling

jobs are made simpler and workers become interchangeable

this way workers don’t have the upper hand

automation is conducive to deskillign

skill-based technological change

technological changes since the 1970s increase demand for high-skilled workers and the wages they could command

telecommuting

white-collar workers perform their jobs from home

provides flexibility and reduces commuting time but also isolates workers from peers

unions

primary way in which workers obtain greater power in labor processes, through negotiations, collective bargaining agreements, etc.

government job regulations

can do some things unions do like regulate work hours, overtime pay, when workers can be fired, etc.

union strength and government regulation strength plays major roles in helping workers