EMPLOYMENT HISTORIES AND THE CONCEPT OF THE UNDERCLASS.

This paper reports on research carried out in Hartlepool, based on data from three groups of male respondents: (I) those employed for at least the last twelve months; (2) those recently recruited to employment, (i.e. within the last twelve months); (3) those currently employed and having held the same job for the last twelve months. By comparing the work histories and characterising features of these three groupings the paper sets out to explore the theoretical and empirical validity of the notion of the underclass, focusing specifically on two competing definitions: non- participation in the labour market, and systematic disadvantage in the labour market. The data reveal a distinctive pattern of broken employment for the second of the three groups identified above. Those affected are thus located between the two contrasting positions of long-term unemployment, and relatively secure employment. The existence of such a grouping is argued to undermine a definition of an underclass purely in terms of unemployment. However, the characteristics of the `under- employed', despite indicating a clear pattern of disadvantage, are too heterogeneous to constitute a distinctive class position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]