Industrial Structure and Labor Force Segmentation

Recognition of the determining influence of industrial structure on the structure of labor force segmentation constitutes a major advance in the field of labor economics. Nevertheless much recent work has persisted with generalizations emphasizing a relatively simple relation between industrial structure and labor force segmentation, linking the primary labor segment to the monopoly core of industry and the secondary segment to the competitive periphery. It is argued here that each major section of industry exhibits its own form of labor force segmentation, and that this more complex relationship between industrial structure and work force structure deserves greater emphasis.