ABSTRACT
White-collar work is now well on the way to commoditization. Any discussion about the commoditization of white-collar work should address the changing nature of work and of the workplace in general because both have made it easier for employers to exploit the benefits associated with labour arbitrage. The workforce factors act as a foundation on which white-collar commoditization can thrive because they set the tone, culture and precedents which permit organizations to push the boundaries and limits of the employment relationship and ultimately the flexibility of their employees. Economic migration has traditionally focused on the lower end of the economy. As economies grow and move away from blue-collar to white-collar work, the desire to undertake the lower forms of employment drops. The changing demographic backdrop along with the use of the Internet is making it possible, as is economic migration, outsourcing, off shoring and the emergence of new and powerful multinational companies from China, India and South America.
