About this Book

In this provocative new study of American workers, sociologist Arne Kalleberg examines the consequences of "mismatched" workers or the lack of fit between people and their jobs. Most people now expect their paid work to be broadly fulfilling and enable them to satisfy the need for challenging work, meaningful relationships, and financial success. Kalleberg shows how these expanding expectations of work are leading to a growing number of mismatches between employees and their jobs. Each chapter frames a different type of mismatch and describes how the poor fit between individuals and their employers have negative consequences for workers and their families. In addition to giving readers a fresh way to think about how people work, "The Mismatched Worker" also suggests social polices and strategies that might alleviate worker dissatisfaction and simultaneously make organizations more efficient.