Sociology
Occupational Prestige and the Shifting Status Hierarchy in Post-Industrial Economies
Quick fact
Survey data from countries like the United States and Germany show that occupational prestige scores for professional and technical roles rose steadily over the late 20th century, while prestige scores for many manufacturing and routine clerical jobs declined, even when adjusted for income.
Why this is interesting
Why do we respect some jobs more than others, and why is that respect changing? In post-industrial societies, the jobs that once carried the highest status are being replaced by a new hierarchy of ‘knowledge’ work.