Social Mobility and Labour Markets

Background information

The Social Mobility and Labour Markets Group aims to promote the following:

  • research on social mobility and labour
  • gender aspects of labour and mobility research
  • the integration of PhD and early career researchers in the Cathie Marsh Institute and their schools.

Annually our group will hold three seminars, two workshops and one formal meeting to steer the direction of the research group.

At present we have approximately 39 people aligned with our group. This includes representation from different departments in Sociology at the University and representation from PhD researchers at The University of Manchester.

Events and activities

  • Integrated Mixed Methods Using Attitude Data to Generate Social Evidence of Tense Situations, Especially Regarding Labour (November 2014) - Drawing from a national network, this workshop saw participants from around the country and staff within the University of Manchester. Besides factor analysis and gender norms, it was also discussed how to obtain a European Research Council Horizon 2020 Erasmus Plus grant.
  • Understanding social trust and other social behaviours – a transatlantic dialogue (February 2015)
  • Effect of Austerity on Labour Market Chances and Transitions (April 2015)

Selected projects

  • Norms, Labour Supply and Poverty Reduction in Comparative Context - The project measures the gender impact of poverty alleviation interventions in rural India and Bangladesh and how this impact has been mediated through social norms. The project focuses on the social differentiation of attitudes about women's work. ESRC project page.
  • Innovation in Mixed Methods - In bringing together collaborators from the UK, Germany, India and Bangladesh, this three year project (2014-2017) acknowledges the interdisciplinary nature of labour research, as it endeavours to address a number of themes: skills, productivity, gender stereotypes, wage-bargaining, globalisation, the intensification of paid work, formal/informal and self-employment, domestic work, value chains, and the demand for labour during growth and recession.

Leads