ILPC 2027

In this paper our aim is to analyze the relationship between class position and work situation. Our main concern is with the structuration of class situation at work.  One of the most systematic analysis of class profiles at work was presented in the study of Werner Kudera et al. 1979.  According to them the main areas of experience of wage workers are 1) the content of work (identification with work, work autonomy), 2) condition of labour power, 3) individual performance and its meaning as justification principle of wage differences, 4) the defence of wage worker interests at enterprise level (trade union action).

Our data is The Quality of Work Life Survey 2008 of Statistics Finland. The data is based on the representative sample of   15-64 years aged population. A total of 4392 interviews were carried out. The response rate was 67%.

The socio-economic categories or groups used in the analysis are 1) managers, 2) upper functionaries, 3) lower functionaries, 4) skilled workers 5) unskilled workers. The basic profiles of the different socio-economic categories were described with some main indicators of work conditions. The dimensions of the work profiles were analysed with factor analysis separately in each group The indicators were 1) physical intensity of work,   2) mental health, 3) psycho-somatic problems, 4) training possibilities at work, 5) career possibilities, 6) design autonomy, 7) possibilities to influence content of work, 8) getting information of the changes of one’s work,  9) control of working times 10) incomes. Many indicators as such were already sum-scales of several variables. The scales have high reliability.

 I Work autonomy. The highest loadings were design autonomy (can apply one’s own ideas, .74), the possibility to influence on the content of work tasks (.69), the lower loadings were information about the changes of work, the control of working times and the incomes. II. Mental well-being, two very high loadings were problems of mental health (.89) and psycho-physic symptoms (.89).  III Development at work, the two high loadings were career possibilities (.69) and possibilities to education at work and the smaller loading of the control of working times (.68). The basic structure of the work profiles in all socio-economic categories are relatively similar with the work profiles of in the whole data. This is the main result. However, there are some meaningful differences in location of different matters to the main dimensions. Those concern The freedom at work and

The Surveillance of the work

The work profiles are relatively similar in different socio economic categories. Exceptions are related to surveillance of work, freedom of work and work strain, which form separate dimensions in the groups of lower functionaries and the groups of workers.