Upskilling (AQA A-Level Sociology): Revision Notes
Upskilling
The upskilling vs deskilling debate
The debate over upskilling and deskilling began in the 1980s as sociologists examined how technology was affecting workplace skills. This debate has major implications for understanding modern employment patterns.
This fundamental debate in sociology has shaped how we understand the relationship between technology, education, and employment in modern societies.
Upskilling refers to the expansion of higher-skilled, technical occupations in the workforce. Supporters argue that occupational growth occurs most rapidly in professional, technical and managerial roles.
Deskilling describes a decrease in workplace skills, where supporters argue that the lowest-skilled jobs grow much faster than high-technology positions.
This debate extends beyond individual countries to examine global economic patterns. The upskilling perspective is particularly applied to developing nations, where it focuses on literacy growth and educational expansion as countries industrialise. The deskilling view argues that skilled handicraft work from early capitalism has been undermined by technological advancement and global competition.
Evidence supporting upskilling
Data from the past 30 years provides strong support for the upskilling argument. Key evidence includes:
- Job expansion patterns: Professional, technical and managerial positions have grown significantly, whilst machine operators, labourers and farm workers have expanded at much lower rates
- Wage trends: Skilled workers have experienced real wage increases compared to unskilled workers over the past three decades
- Educational requirements: Many occupations now require higher qualifications than previously
Supply and Demand Dynamics
The relationship between supply and demand explains these wage patterns. When demand for skilled workers increases faster than supply, skilled workers' relative wages rise compared to unskilled workers.
Educational expansion and graduate workforce
Education serves as a key indicator of workforce skills and qualifications. Since the 1980s, university graduate numbers have grown substantially. Tony Blair set a target during his tenure as Prime Minister (1997-2007) for 50% of 18-year-olds to enter higher education. By 2013, the UK had 12 million graduates, suggesting an upskilled employment market.
Worked Example: Nursing Profession Transformation
The nursing profession exemplifies the upskilling trend:
30 years ago: Training as a state enrolled nurse required only three GCSEs
Today: Entry to nursing and midwifery professions requires university education and graduation
Impact: Nurses increasingly perform tasks previously restricted to junior doctors, blurring professional boundaries. This advancement allows more basic nursing tasks to be delegated to healthcare assistants.
Post-industrial society and the knowledge economy
As manufacturing industries decline and the economy shifts towards tertiary sector expansion, post-industrial societies require workforces with increasing scientific, technological and skilled knowledge. In globalised economies, marketing knowledge becomes increasingly valuable.
Government Policy Response
Government policy reflects this shift. The 2014 national curriculum introduced greater emphasis on mathematics, science and computer programming for primary schools. Training schemes and new apprenticeships aim to increase the supply of technically and scientifically trained workers.
Key sociologist: Daniel Bell
Daniel Bell (1973) pioneered the upskilling argument through his concept of post-industrial society. Bell viewed technological replacement of workers not as a threat, but as stimulating demand for new services and skills. Workers released from manufacturing could transition to white-collar jobs in the expanding service sector.
Bell predicted an upward spiral evolving into a 'knowledge society' - a transformation from industrial production to knowledge-based economic activity.
Contemporary examples
Worked Example: Modern Farming
Farming demonstrates modern upskilling trends. Agricultural college attendance (now with university status) is considered essential for industry success.
Modern farming requires skills in:
- Soil analysis
- Crop rotation techniques
- Toxic chemical management
- Financial management
- Complex farm machinery operation (such as combine harvesters)
Government policy responses
Lord Leitch's report Prosperity for all in the Global Economy: World Class Skills (2006) reviewed the UK's long-term skills needs. The report set ambitious goals for 2020 to make the UK a world leader in skills, proposing far-reaching reforms with an agenda of lifelong upskilling for workers.
Criticisms and limitations
Despite evidence supporting upskilling, several criticisms exist:
Graduate Underemployment Crisis
Expanding university graduate numbers doesn't guarantee skilled graduate jobs. In 2013, the Office for National Statistics reported that almost half of 2012 UK graduates worked in non-graduate jobs. While the 2007-08 recession contributed, 47% of graduates worked in positions not usually requiring higher education qualifications.
Overqualification concerns: Critics argue that many recent graduates enter jobs for which they are overqualified, suggesting the skills expansion may not match job availability.
Gender Disparities in Employment
The Trades Union Congress (2013) identified a 'hollowing out' of middle-income jobs in manufacturing and administration. Between 1993 and 2011, the proportion of 16-24 year old females in low-paid, low-skilled work (retail, waitressing, hotel cleaning) rose from 7% to 21%. Only one in 100 young women worked in skilled trades compared to one in five young men in 2011.
Global context
The upskilling debate applies particularly to developing countries, where global manufacturing growth has created demand for technically skilled workers. This represents a shift from uneducated rural workers towards skilled employment integration, including increased female workforce participation.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Upskilling describes the expansion of high-skilled, technical jobs whilst deskilling refers to skill level decreases in the workforce
- Daniel Bell developed the post-industrial society concept, predicting technology would create demand for new services and a 'knowledge society'
- Evidence for upskilling includes wage increases for skilled workers, expansion of professional jobs, and educational requirement increases
- Critics argue that graduate expansion doesn't guarantee skilled job availability, with many graduates working in non-graduate positions
- The debate has important implications for understanding workplace organisation, labour division, and income distribution in modern society