Innovative workers' “capabilities” but less employment status and working conditions under pressure

Innovative workers’ “capabilities” but less employment status and working conditions under pressure

Transformation of work is more and more characterised by a prevalent dimension of “being” more than of “doing”. Trends in global capitalism, from transnational markets to accelerating technological innovation and restructuring, are pushing towards this change, above all in countries with higher labour cost. This transformation is also advantaged by a relevant development of human capital and social relationships.

This dimension of “being” in jobs is essentially related to increasing workers’ “resources” or, better, workers’ “capabilities” like: a) more knowledge and creativity; b) more capabilities to be in network,  social cooperation, co-working or working teams; c) more autonomy and responsibility or more initiative at the workplace. Results of  recent surveys and empirical researches are making available the most important data about this transformation and related indicators. Also theoretical contributions have been strongly influenced by these results in order to give more confirmation or to invite to new research fields.  

But innovative workers’ capabilities are not developing everywhere, in the same way and/or with the right social evaluation. New jobs are often characterised by less employment status: inequalities for women and young people; declining internal labour markets; more involuntary part time work; dependent self-employment; informal work. And also working conditions are under pressure: wage equality is in question; work and life are less on balance; health and safety are not better, but with more stress at the workplace, as indicated by the last survey of Dublin European Foundation. “Varieties of capitalism” still explain many kinds of dualism across countries, as for job quality and job satisfaction. In particular, labour law, collective action, and welfare regimes are very relevant elements. But there are some other important variables to be considered.