Labor Market Continuity and Change

Abstract

In this book, I have tried to elaborate several concepts that can make up the basic theoretical building bricks for a sociological analysis of the labor market, particularly in advanced capitalist societies. First and foremost, the concept of labor market has been denned as a ‘hiring fair’ for labor power, the human capacity for work. It is an arena that involves two major types of actors: those who offer and those who hire labor power; the latter actors have a need to get some work done and the resources to pay for it, while the former join in above all to earn a living. With regard to the human laboring faculties, we can distinguish three main dimensions: biological capabilities, qualifications, and motivation. If an individual offers his/her capacities for work in the market and finds someone willing to hire it, an employment contract can be established between the two parties. The job to be done consists of a number of work tasks, commonly assembled into what we call occupations. If the individual, however, does not find an employer willing to use his/her capacity for work, he/she must be classified as unemployed.