This book investigates how the restructuring of the British employment relationship during the 1980s and 1990s impacted workplace inequality and worker experience. The authors, a team of expert sociologists and economists, utilize extensive data from the Employment in Britain survey to challenge the assumption that technological upskilling inherently leads to more egalitarian work environments. They argue that structural changes in the labor market have instead solidified existing hierarchies and divisions within the workforce.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational empirical study for understanding the evolution of the British labor market during a period of significant economic transition. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous statistical approach employed by the authors to support their findings.