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Continuity and Change: The Employment Orientation of Contemporary Marginalised Working-Class Young Men

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  • Richard Gater

Abstract

Youth unemployment is increasing and disproportionately affects marginalised working-class young men, a subgroup commonly associated with manual employment aspirations and protest masculinity. Despite the detrimental impact of youth unemployment on this demographic and recent research exploring their masculine identity, there remains a limited understanding of their current employment aspirations. Drawing on a qualitative study conducted in the South Wales Valleys, UK, this article seeks to fill the knowledge gap by examining the employment orientation of marginalised working-class young men. The findings reveal both continuity and change in the understanding of this subgroup’s employment aspirations. Continuity includes a protest masculine-related rejection of certain service sector work and an attraction to manual employment influenced by familial socialisation. Change is observed through an interest in non-manual work, which for some participants appears to stem from what is described as a rupturing process, or significant social influences that destabilise working-class masculine modes of being.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Gater, 2026. "Continuity and Change: The Employment Orientation of Contemporary Marginalised Working-Class Young Men," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 40(1), pages 26-44, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:40:y:2026:i:1:p:26-44
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170251375724
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Natasha Slutskaya & Ruth Simpson & Jason Hughes & Alexander Simpson & Selçuk Uygur, 2016. "Masculinity and Class in the Context of Dirty Work," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 165-182, March.
    2. Kevin Ralston & Dawn Everington & Zhiqiang Feng & Chris Dibben, 2022. "Economic Inactivity, Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) and Scarring: The Importance of NEET as a Marker of Long-Term Disadvantage," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 36(1), pages 59-79, February.
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