Labour Markets and Identity on the Post-Industrial Assembly Line

This sharp sociological study examines how modern call centers embody the core principles of neoliberal capitalism, transforming customer service into a high-tech assembly line where efficiency and flexibility dictate every interaction. Through rigorous fieldwork, the book reveals how these workplaces are deeply embedded within global economic processes, using telecommunications and information technology to create cost-efficient systems that fundamentally reshape labor. The analysis demonstrates how the relentless pursuit of productivity metrics doesn't just organize work—it reorganizes the workers themselves, creating a distinct post-industrial environment where human interaction becomes standardized and measured.

What makes this research particularly compelling is its focus on identity, exploring how workers navigate and internalize the demands of this monitored, performance-driven environment. The book will resonate most with readers interested in critical labor studies, the sociology of work, and anyone curious about the human cost of our service-based economy. It offers a sobering look at how contemporary workplaces don't just manage tasks—they manage minds, making it essential reading for understanding modern employment's psychological landscape.