The Sociology of Contemporary Work: What It Is, and Why We Need It

This book injects a burst of energy into the sociology of work, offering a perspective that is both innovative and deeply informed.

Leading sociology of work scholar, Marek Korczynski, praises the discipline’s comprehensive approach to theory, its focus on uncovering power dynamics and its ability to reveal how social injustices often stem from workplace inequalities. Offering an accessible overview of the field, the book:

- analyses both the social structures around work and the voice and agency of workers;

- examines the role and impact of artificial intelligence at work; - provides a consistent thread on gig work, service work and knowledge work;

- has an end-section in each chapter where students are asked to put their sociological imagination to work on relevant topics.

This is an enlightening exploration of sociology of work, and of the evolving world of work itself.

Marek Korczynski is Professor of Sociology of Work at the University of Nottingham. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Work, Employment and Society, 2022-26.