Sociology 243: Occupations
Fall 2007
Professor: Dr. J. Aurini
Week 1: Sept 12
Overview:
Introductions
 Course Outline
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◦ Key Concepts
◦ Ground Rules
◦ Questions, Clarification
Soc. 243_Week 1
‘Work’ vs. ‘Occupations’
◦ Work – paid and unpaid
◦ Occupations - a collection of jobs or types of
work sharing similar skills and responsibilities
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Management occupations
Business, finance and administrative occupations
National and applied sciences and related occupations
Health occupations
Occupations in social science, education, government service and religion
Sales and service occupations
Trades, transport, and equipment operators and related occupations.
Occupations unique to primary industry
Occupations unique to processes, manufacturing and utilities
Soc. 243_Week 1
Our Mission:
To examine the connections between the
organization of work and:
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Broader social change
◦ i.e., labour markets trends
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Social inequality and opportunity
◦ i.e., wages, mobility
How people experience work
 Status/identity formation  lifestyle and health
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Soc. 243_Week 1
Course Outline:
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Part 1:
◦ Sociological Approaches
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Part 2:
◦ Organizations
 The institutions where work takes place
 How informal (i.e. culture) and formal (i.e.
promotion practices) structure shape the
experience of work
Soc. 243_Week 1
Course Outline:
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Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities
◦ Opportunity and reward structures
 Occupation trends – between and within sectors
 Canadian Trends (Saez and Veall, 2005):
 1980: Top 1 % of earners = 7.5% of all income
 2000: Top 1% of earners = 13% of all income
 ‘Winner-take-all’ vs. ‘Flatter’ labour markets
Soc. 243_Week 1
Statistics Canada: Employment and Hourly Wages by
Occupation Sector (2006)
Occupation Sector
# of employees1
(thousands)
Management occupations
1,021.50
10.7%
31.98
Business, finance and
administrative
2,771.30
18.0
18.56
Natural and applied sciences
1,027.20
6.5
27.18
873
5.4
23.03
1,271.50
7.9
25.36
Art, culture, recreation & sport
329.1
2.8
19.36
Sales and service occupations
3,574.00
23.4
12.96
Trades, transport and equipment
operators
2,133.50
14.4
19.35
Health occupations
Social science, education,
government service and
religion
%
$ wage/hr
Source: http://www40.statcan.ca/cbin/fl/cstprintflag.cgi
(Not a complete listing)
Course Outline:

Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities
◦ Opportunity and reward structures
 Occupation trends – between and within sectors
 Canadian Trends (Saez and Veall, 2005):
 1980: Top 1 % of earners = 7.5% of all income
 2000: Top 1% of earners = 13% of all income
 ‘Winner-take-all’ vs. ‘Flatter’ labour markets
Soc. 243_Week 1
Brilliant CEO or Lucky Break?
Soc. 243_Week 1
Course Outline:
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Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities
◦ Opportunity and reward structures
 Gatekeeping ‘workhorses’ (i.e., credentials)
 Homophily: Having 1 or more common attribute
 Characteristics: gender, ethnicity
 Norms/values: religion, animal rights etc.
 Structural location: geography (i.e. neighbours), positional (i.e.,
middle managers, Soc 243 students)
 Relative numbers: How social composition impacts
relationships and opportunities
Soc. 243_Week 1
Course Outline:
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Part 3: Inequalities and Opportunities
◦ Opportunity and reward structures
 Professions and managers/white collar work
 Relationship between gatekeepers/gate keeping mechanisms
and rewards
 Occupational status and its connection to:
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Inequality
Identity formation, self-worth
Culture and lifestyle
Health
Politics
Soc. 243_Week 1
Course Outline:
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Part 4: Emerging Trends and Challenges
◦ How/why occupations are changing
consequences to opportunity/inequality
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Part 5: Policy at the high and low ends
◦ Connect to formal/informal structure of work
Soc. 243_Week 1
Required Readings
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Required Readings
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Adams and Welsh
CW
2 e-resources (on Angel)
Either: Newman or Hochschild
Soc. 243_Week 1
Assessment:
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Assessment
◦ Assignment 1: Data Collection and
Interpretation
◦ Assignment 2: Read and analyze book
◦ Midterm Quiz: Multiple choice
◦ Final Exam: Mix of multiple choice, short and
long essay
Soc. 243_Week 1
Ground Rules

Official Documentation:
◦ …that is, not from your mom.
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Classroom etiquette:
◦ Cell phones, text messaging, msn, solitaire,
talking, reading newspapers etc…
Soc. 243_Week 1
Office Hours and Contact Information:
Instructor: Dr. Aurini
Weekly: Wed: 12-1, PAS 2051 (or by appt)
E: jaurini@uwaterloo.ca
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TA: Kelly Barrie
Week 3, 7, 11 and one more before final exam
(and by appt.)
Wed:
E: kbarrie@uwaterloo.ca
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Soc. 243_Week 1