The implications of precarious work for careers advisory and employment support services - Project ID SAS0010

A feature of contemporary labour markets has been the growth of insecure or precarious employment. This development has far-reaching implications for the career biographies of workers who are socio-economically disadvantaged. Periods of unemployment may alternate with low paid and insecure work. The growth of precarity in the labour market interacts with issues of welfare benefits, housing, education and domestic arrangements.

These developments present a complex set of challenges to career advisory services and similar agencies tasked with supporting individuals to establish sustainable work and lifestyles over the long term. This project seeks to identify the policy and practice implications of precarious work for these agencies specifically:

• To identify the impact of insecure work on service users, and how they make sense of precarious careers and lifestyles
• To assess the extent to which current public policy is providing an adequate framework for (a) the emerging new employment relationships, and (b) shaping the role of career development services supporting those in precarious employment
• To identify the extent to which current career development practice is adapting to the growth of precarious employment
• To develop and evaluate innovative practice in the field.

The literature review will be multi-disciplinary and will encompass both sources offering a descriptive analysis of insecure careers, and also sources in the professional literatures exploring the implications of contemporary labour markets for career development interventions.

Methods will include the use of (a) quantitative analysis of secondary data sets to explore the reach of precarity in the labour market, and (b) qualitative approaches (primarily research interviews) to understand the experiences of both service users and practitioners.

Academic qualifications
A first degree (at least a 2.1) ideally in a social science discipline (e.g. psychology, sociology, economics, social geography, public policy) with a good fundamental knowledge of employment issues.

English language requirement
IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University’s policy are available online.

Essential attributes:
• Experience of fundamental qualitative and quantitative research methods within a relevant social science discipline
• Competent in the use of information technology
• Knowledge of contemporary labour markets and/or contemporary career development practices
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project
• Good time management

Desirable attributes:
• A postgraduate or professional qualification in a relevant discipline
• Experience of labour market analysis, or the production of labour market intelligence
• Understanding of socio-economic inequality in work and careers

When applying for this position please quote project ID SAS0010