local labour market

local labour market

the market for jobs within a particular locale. At this level of analysis, specifics relating to the role of the family, social networks and employers within the local milieu all play their part in developing and sustaining the work expectations, attitudes and behaviour of individuals and groups. These can vary greatly between localities and influence the ways individuals, groups and employers respond to external LABOUR MARKET pressures, e.g. economic recession (Ashton et al., 1987). Studies of local labour markets add to our understanding of the dynamics of labour markets, in particular segmentalism (see SEGMENTED LABOUR MARKET) and emphasize the importance of local sociohistorical and cultural patterning of these relations.