Notes on: Nolan, P and Slater, G.

(2010), `Vision of the future, the legacy of the past: Demystifying the weightless economy, Labor History, vol. 51 (1), 7-29 Many recent studies argue point to a radical transformation in the character of paid work. Key points of reference include the demise of usefulness as workers are rendered redundant by the quickening pace of technological change This is argue to be largely false by Nolan and Slater who argue that Britain is better characterised as pear-shaped economy propped up by millions of low status manual/nonmanual workers Impacts of Globalisation Commentators have emphasised radical shifts in the international division of labour, a decline in material production in western economies, changes in the form, structure and management of work Some literature (including Giddens sociologist/political commentator) argues for a apocalyptic future through the rise of technology and free trade threatening the future viability of the western manufacturing workforce and the once safe occupations of the welleducated middle class Rifkin (cited in Nolan and Slater) argues that the workers are being phased out by new thinking machines that are capable of performing many of the mental tasks now performed by human beings with middle management being hit hardest Glyn (cited in Nolan and Slater) argues that the vast supply of underutilised, educated labour power in India and China threatens to transform the international division of labour and undermine the position of workers in the west What incentive is there for Multinationals to keep factories/investment in the west when labour is significantly cheaper in China, India etc is so low? The argument that service based industries, advanced technological, science, and engineering based products would allow the western would to maintain their international position This argument is starting to weaken as China/India become more developed etc Giddens argues that: No one knows how far the outsourcing of services will go, especially as technology becomes increasingly accessible. As education levels increase, with both China and India producing over 4 million graduates a year the relatively stable legal, financial, high-tech, journalistic and medical industries are likely to be affected increasingly so Production in advanced economies is shifting away from material goods to informationprocessing activities

Leadbeater argues that increasingly public and private sectors are using intangible inputs to produce intangible outputs, services and know-how Giddens notes that the term knowledge economy is not a hollow phrase but refers more accurately to the knowledge and service economy partially because by no means do all services demand high levels of training Carnoy, astells, Cohen and Cardoso, also stress the proliferation (rapid growth) of knowledge-intensive employment opportunities Production is shifting from material goods to information processing activities changes from standardised mass production to flexible customised production --- taking place in the midst of one of the most significant technological revolutions in human history Implications for world economy Signal the arrival of a new international division of labour defined by the structure and logic of the information economy Less emphasis on the location of natural resources, cheap labour, capital stock Greater focus on the capacity to create new knowledge and apply it rapidly Shift from routine labour to more abstract conceptual labour

Skill Biased Technical Change (SBTC) Advances in science, technology and knowledge economy resulting in a greater demand for more educated and skilled workers at the expense of the less educated and less skilled - Results in rising wage inequalities - Spread of joblessness amongst low-skilled Scientists, technicians, managers, entrepreneurs, managers will prosper as job opportunities for more traditional occupations progressively diminish Occupations in Britain Is the occupation structure in Britain markedly different from that of a century ago? YES. In 1901 male labour was dominated by manual occupations in mining, labouring, farm working and transport By 2003, management roles dominate. Manual roles are still a significant source of employment Females have seen a rise in general participation rates: education, personal services, clerical and secretarial work as well as rising presence in management and commerce of last 50 years Two trends: a rising share of professional occupations and the continuing importance of manual occupation