Download Zhadan O.V., Doctor of Public Administration, Associate Professor

Zhadan O.V., Doctor of Public Administration, Associate Professor, Full
Professor of Personnel Management and Labor Economy Department, KRI NAPA,
Kharkiv
An extended abstract of the paper on the subject of:
“SOCIAL AND LABOR RELATIONS IN POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY:
ESSENCE, CHARACTERISTICS, DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS”
Problem setting. The process of social and labor relations transformation at
the stage of forming a postindustrial society is one of the most topical issues of the
modern economic science. The formation of a postindustrial society, the basis of
which is laid by a principally new type of information and innovation economy, calls
for changes in regulation of social and labor relations, adequate to the new production
and consumption modes. In this context, it is obvious that a further civilized
development of the society by way of socio-economic and technical-technological
progress is impossible without solving that major scientific and practical problem.
Recent research and publications analysis. Research of the up-to-date forms
of social and labor relations under the conditions of postindustrial society formation
and development has been conducted in the works by outstanding economists,
sociologists and futurologists R. Аron, D. Bell, R. Dahrendorf, J. Galbraith,
V. Іnozemtsev,
G. Каnn,
W. Rostow,
L. Thurow,
A. Toffler,
К. Тоminaga,
А. Тouraine and other scholars. Such a sound theoretical basis enables and stipulates
the need for concentration on a study of social and labor relations in the context of
the above-mentioned research.
The paper objective is a review of the available world theories of
postindustrialism, determining the essence, characteristics and development prospects
of social and labor relations in a postindustrial society.
The paper main body. The theory of postindustrial society was created in
1960s–1970s by sociologists and futurologists D. Bell, J. Fourastie, P. Drucker,
R. Heilbroner, A. Toffler and other scientists. A representative of the “new wave” of
postindustrialism М. Castells made a number of significant additions to the theory.
Over the recent 20 years, the world has observed a remarkable surge of interest in
postindustrial concepts on the part of various schools of the modem Marxism.
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A postindustrial society is characterized by three main features:
1. The source of productiveness and growth of a new stage of social
development is knowledge and information that is processed and disseminated
throughout the economy branches by IT means. In a modern society, over 80% of
expenses, both in terms of time and value, accrue to the work with information.
2. The focus of economic activity shifts from manufacture of goods to service
delivery. In the mid-1990s, the share of service industries in the GDP structure of the
USA amounted to 73,7%; that of France – 66,8%; Italy – 64,3%; Great Britain –
62,6%.
3. A leading role in the new economy is played by knowledge– and
information-intensive professions. According to Alberts and Cervinsky, a
contribution of the ‘knowledge sector’ to the US economy is close to 60%. The
nucleus of a new social structure is composed by professionals and technicians
(‘white collars’, middle class).
Improvement of the living standard and quality in the advanced world, and
sufficiently high social standards have had an impact on a decreased incentive to
labor as a means of a growing consumption. A need in a more meaningful activity,
offering opportunities for personal self-realization, is actualized.
Postindustrialization has brought about a sharp expansion of individuals’ social
space and a motivational and value sphere of their activity. This, in turn, stimulates
the emergence of new economic activities (e.g. work at home of offshore
programmers) and new patterns of career development.
It should be mentioned that with all the appreciation of the present positive
stage of social development, a postindustrial society does not erase the multitude of
social and psychological problems, but on the contrary it gives rise to new challenges.
In particular, there appear increasingly serious problems of the impact of the current
transformation stage on social relations and social structure, property and social
inequality, change of the work hierarchy essence and value, different values of those
who have achieved a high level of prosperity, and poor and medium-welfare social
strata that aspire to get new material benefits.
Conclusions of the research and prospects for further surveys. The results
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of researching transformational processes in the social and labor sphere under
postindustrial society development allows making conclusions as below.
1. Transformation of the system of social relations (including social and labor)
is caused by proceeding to a qualitatively new development stage. The system of
interests and values of both the social development on the whole, and those of the
labor sphere in particular undergoes qualitative changes.
2. Structural changes in the economy and employment resulted in a growing
share of skilled workers and emergence of a numerous class of intellectuals who
Structural changes in the economy and employment have caused an increased number
of high-skilled workers and emergence of a numerous class of intellectuals who
compete less with each other in the labor market than representatives of traditional
“industrial” professions, form a new attitude to education as a prerequisite for
entering a postindustrial society and a core of social and labor relations.
3. A postindustrial society changes the nature of labor. Under the influence of
globalization, it becomes more individualized and creative which results in a gradual
disappearance of narrow specialization and narrow professionalism, revival of
versatility based on upgrading skills, continuous training and combining functions.
4. The high living standards of advanced nations actualize a need in activities
rich in content, which offer opportunities for individuals’ self-realization, as distinct
from perceiving work as a means of earning money for consumption.