WED 466 unit 3

1. WED 466: Unit 3
Sociological Foundations
of Workforce Education
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 1

2. General Objective
3. Understands the sociological foundations
of workforce education.
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 2

3. Topics
• Sociological Perspectives of Work
• Sociological Classification of Labor Markets
• Sociological Perspectives of Contemporary
Work Trends
• Social Class, Workforce Education Students,
and Work
• Family Influences of Work and Status Attainment
• Work Attainment
• Work and Social Stratification
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 3

4. Sociological Perspectives of Work
• Tend to accent the environmental factors that
facilitate or constrain individual action
• Concerned with structural factors
– Work is social behavior
– Work is performed in a network of role relationships
• Is complex and not confined by either its
technical content or its economic implications
• Less concerned with how individuals make a job
choice or why
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 4

5. Sociological Classification of Labor
Markets
• Dual Economy Theory
– Core Sector
– Periphery Sector
• Dual Labor Market Theory
– Primary Labor Market
– Secondary Labor Market
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 5

6. Core/Primary Labor Market
• Refers to large firms that
– hold major power in the markets in which they
operate
– engage at the national or international level
– are technology intensive
– provide high income with excellent benefits
– have extensive career ladders
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 6

7. Periphery/Secondary Labor Market
• Refers to firms that
– Are smaller
– Offer lower wages and fewer benefits
– Offer less security
– Have shorter career ladders
– Have fewer opportunities for advancement
– Have less opportunity for training and education
• Includes “start up” firms that are young and well
on their way to being part of the core/primary
market
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 7

8. Structural Continuum
• Occupational structure is more realistically
a range of firms that differ in
– size
– command of resources
– internal labor market characteristics
– training requirements and availability
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 8

9. Sociological Perspectives of
Contemporary Work Trends
• Downsizing
• Reorganization
• Just-in-Time Procedures
• Globalization
• Advanced Technology
• Stressful Working Conditions
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 9

10. Social Class, Workforce Education
Students, and work
• Why is vocational education a dumping
ground for students of low achievement?
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 10

11. Family Influences on Work and
Status Attainment
• Status Attainment Model
• Socio-Psychological Processes
• Mental Ability
• Acquired Information about Work
• Family Values and Behavior
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 11

12. Work Attainment
• How do sociological and psychological
perspectives of work differ?
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 12

13. Work and Social Stratification
• Occupational fields differ in
– social structure
– structural factors
– job structures that comprise them
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 13

14. Summary
• Workforce education and job availability,
stability, and access do not occur in a vacuum.
• Work occurs within a network of roles and
social relationships.
• Family, socioeconomic status, race, and
gender influence occupational preferences.
• Different labor markets influence workforce
education in different ways.
• Workforce education must be a dynamic
process.
Fall, 2008 WED 466 – Unit 3 14