The labor metamorphoses. Modern interpretations

Abstract

The focus of the article is not an abstract concept of labour, but the precise human labor, identified with professional occupation, the work aimed at maintaining a decent standard of living and personal fulfillment. Attitude to labor, its role in the human life and society are constantly undergoing changes, forcing individuals to vary and to adapt to new working conditions, learning new professions and skills. In addition to the labor metamorphoses in the end of 20th century, connected with trends of post-industrial society, contemporary researchers, facing strengthening of globalization processes, technological progress and further income polarization in early 21st century, fix unprecedented changes in regard to labor relations and new social phenomena which allow even to talk about the «end of labor» in its traditional sense (M.N. Makarova).

Among them the article considers the rise of a new class called precariat and the precarization of labor relations (G. Standing), the concept of two-thirds society, the phenomenon of meaningless jobs (D. Gruber) and downshifting, which, being a voluntary refusal of the career may be one of possible society reactions to useless, time-consuming labor. One of the potential ways to solve some issues mentioned in the article and supported by a great number of scientists, is the introduction of an unconditional basic income.