Trends in Perceived Job Quality, 1989 to 1998

Abstract

There is significant controversy over recent trends in the material and intrinsic quality of jobs. Neo-Fordist theories argue that material conditions such as pay, job security, promotion opportunities, and effort requirements have deteriorated for most of the workforce. Post-Fordist theories argue that new work systems are raising levels of intrinsic rewards such as job challenge, autonomy, and cooperation and are also offering higher wages. This article tests both theories using repeated cross-sectional data from the General Social Survey. Results suggest workers’ perceptions of the quality of their jobs remained remarkably stable on most dimensions. It is possible that this reflects various obstacles to recognizing objective changes such as flexible standards of evaluation. But stability may indicate that both schools of thought overestimate the extent of recent changes.