Sociology 243: Occupations Fall 2007 Professor: Dr. J. Aurini Week 1: Sept 12 Overview: Introductions Course Outline ◦ Key Concepts ◦ Ground Rules ◦ Questions, Clarification Soc. 243_Week 1 ‘Work’ vs. ‘Occupations’ ◦ Work – paid and unpaid ◦ Occupations - a collection of jobs or types of work sharing similar skills and responsibilities Management occupations Business, finance and administrative occupations National and applied sciences and related occupations Health occupations Occupations in social science, education, government service and religion Sales and service occupations Trades, transport, and equipment operators and related occupations. Occupations unique to primary industry Occupations unique to processes, manufacturing and utilities Soc. 243_Week 1 Our Mission: To examine the connections between the organization of work and: Broader social change ◦ i.e., labour markets trends Social inequality and opportunity ◦ i.e., wages, mobility How people experience work Status/identity formation lifestyle and health Soc. 243_Week 1 Course Outline: Part 1: ◦ Sociological Approaches Part 2: ◦ Organizations The institutions where work takes place How informal (i.e. culture) and formal (i.e. promotion practices) structure shape the experience of work Soc. 243_Week 1 Course Outline: Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities ◦ Opportunity and reward structures Occupation trends – between and within sectors Canadian Trends (Saez and Veall, 2005): 1980: Top 1 % of earners = 7.5% of all income 2000: Top 1% of earners = 13% of all income ‘Winner-take-all’ vs. ‘Flatter’ labour markets Soc. 243_Week 1 Statistics Canada: Employment and Hourly Wages by Occupation Sector (2006) Occupation Sector # of employees1 (thousands) Management occupations 1,021.50 10.7% 31.98 Business, finance and administrative 2,771.30 18.0 18.56 Natural and applied sciences 1,027.20 6.5 27.18 873 5.4 23.03 1,271.50 7.9 25.36 Art, culture, recreation & sport 329.1 2.8 19.36 Sales and service occupations 3,574.00 23.4 12.96 Trades, transport and equipment operators 2,133.50 14.4 19.35 Health occupations Social science, education, government service and religion % $ wage/hr Source: http://www40.statcan.ca/cbin/fl/cstprintflag.cgi (Not a complete listing) Course Outline: Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities ◦ Opportunity and reward structures Occupation trends – between and within sectors Canadian Trends (Saez and Veall, 2005): 1980: Top 1 % of earners = 7.5% of all income 2000: Top 1% of earners = 13% of all income ‘Winner-take-all’ vs. ‘Flatter’ labour markets Soc. 243_Week 1 Brilliant CEO or Lucky Break? Soc. 243_Week 1 Course Outline: Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities ◦ Opportunity and reward structures Gatekeeping ‘workhorses’ (i.e., credentials) Homophily: Having 1 or more common attribute Characteristics: gender, ethnicity Norms/values: religion, animal rights etc. Structural location: geography (i.e. neighbours), positional (i.e., middle managers, Soc 243 students) Relative numbers: How social composition impacts relationships and opportunities Soc. 243_Week 1 Course Outline: Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities ◦ Opportunity and reward structures Professions and managers/white collar work Relationship between gatekeepers/gate keeping mechanisms and rewards Occupational status and its connection to: Inequality Identity formation, self-worth Culture and lifestyle Health Politics Soc. 243_Week 1 Course Outline: Part 4: Emerging Trends and Challenges ◦ How/why occupations are changing consequences to opportunity/inequality Part 5: Policy at the high and low ends ◦ Connect to formal/informal structure of work Soc. 243_Week 1 Required Readings Required Readings ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Adams and Welsh CW 2 e-resources (on Angel) Either: Newman or Hochschild Soc. 243_Week 1 Assessment: Assessment ◦ Assignment 1: Data Collection and Interpretation ◦ Assignment 2: Read and analyze book ◦ Midterm Quiz: Multiple choice ◦ Final Exam: Mix of multiple choice, short and long essay Soc. 243_Week 1 Ground Rules Official Documentation: ◦ …that is, not from your mom. Classroom etiquette: ◦ Cell phones, text messaging, msn, solitaire, talking, reading newspapers etc… Soc. 243_Week 1 Office Hours and Contact Information: Instructor: Dr. Aurini Weekly: Wed: 12-1, PAS 2051 (or by appt) E: jaurini@uwaterloo.ca TA: Kelly Barrie Week 3, 7, 11 and one more before final exam (and by appt.) Wed: E: kbarrie@uwaterloo.ca Soc. 243_Week 1