Mapping Good Work: The Quality of Working Life Across the Occupational Structure

Available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence

In this enlightening study of modern working lives in Britain, leading experts on the sociology of work draw on detailed statistical analyses to assess job quality and job satisfaction.

Drawing on decades of research data on hundreds of occupational groups, the authors challenge conventional notions of ‘good work’ and consider them afresh through the lens of workers themselves. With examples from many professions, the book examines why some occupations feel more rewarding than others, regardless of factors like pay and security.

Exploring fresh policies to promote the agenda for fulfilling employment, it builds an important case for genuine and sustained satisfaction in working lives.

Mark Williams is Reader in Human Resource Management at the School of Business and Management at Queen Mary University of London.

Ying Zhou is Reader in Human Resource Management at Surrey Business School at the University of Surrey.

Min Zou is Associate Professor in Human Resource Management at Henley Business School at the University of Reading.