Employment and standards of living in the UK

The one thing the English will never forgive the Germans for is working too hard. (George Mikes, 1960s)

 Starts at 8 or 9 o’clock  Lunch break – 1 hour  Finishes at 5 o’clock

Working life Blue collars (skilled manual workers) and white collars (non-manual workers) Retiring age – 65 years old Industrial action – a phenomenon when workers refuse to work in the normal way. There are various forms: ▫a work-to-rule ▫slow-down ▫strikes (official or unofficial)

How to Make a Good Career Choice

Looking for a job 3 ways in which people look for work: through newspapers through the local job centre through privately-run employment agencies

Millions Total Number of People in Employment in the UK Aged 16 and Over Employment Level

Modern tendencies fewer jobs for men (because of the decline of heavy industry) more vacancies for women (because of the rise in service occupations) gender pay gap

Work organizations The Confederation of British Industry CBIThe organization which represents employers in private industry The Trades Union CongressTUCThe main organization for groups of employees The National Farmers’ UnionNFUThe organization of rich agricultural employers and independent farmers

21 st century jobs hairdressers beauticians personal trainers baldness experts

Spending money: shopping The British are not very adventurous shoppers. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are flourishing. The high street – the area in town where the local shops are concentrated. The wealth has increased because now people buy more expensive products than several years ago. “We love supermarkets because we are a cash-rich but time-poor society; we hardly have time for home cooking and want to do our shopping quickly and where we can park the car easily. If we want ready meals, these are sold most efficiently in large superstores where a wide range can be offered.”

Charity shops

Standards of living The wealthiest region (the highest prices) The poorest areas

Housing

Houses, not flats! The most desirable home The least desirable home

Tendencies More owner-occupied houses-70% Out of 22 million houses - 4 million flats The dislike of flats House prices have risen dramatically over the last 10 years Social housing (council houses) Homelessness Sink estates problems

Home ownership has increased

Sink estates

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