Recognising the Skills of Experience in Segmented Labour Markets : Prospects for Personal Carers and Road Transport Drivers?

This paper addresses the problem of low-status or ‘bad’ jobs (Kalleberg, et al.2000) in the occupations of truck driver and personal care assistant, and explores skill-based strategies for making these jobs better. The paper grapples with conceptualizations of low status jobs within theories of labour market segmentation and alternative theories. It also explores possible conceptual foundations for a future empirical research project ,designed to explore ways of better recognizing, developing and utilizing the skills of drivers and carers, through the creation of career paths in occupations seen as low-skilled