ABSTRACT
In this chapter we want to examine the theme of unemployment. It may seem strange to focus on this issue in a book about work, but what we want to argue is that the relationship between work and non-work is a complex and interesting one. To fully understand the one, we have to have a deep understanding of the other. We want to argue that in studying unemployment, we can tap into some of the most important themes in this book, including what work means to people, and how (and if ) they form their identity around work and employment. We can see too the way inequalities within the workplace are reflected in the treatment of those without work. We also want to explore
what is sociologically important about unemployment. What is distinct about the way sociologists model and explain the absence of work, and how and in what ways do they borrow from other disciplines such as economics, social policy and psychology?
