Deskilling

The theory of deskilling draws on the Marxist concept of class conflict between workers and employers under capitalism. Deskilling is the process whereby employers exert control over production in ways that render it less dependent on workers' specialized skills. This entry describes the components of the deskilling process and explicates the motivations that lead employers to carry out deskilling. It examines two key consequences of deskilling for workers as a class, by drawing upon the concepts of the reserve army of labor and alienation. Finally, refinements are suggested for the deskilling hypothesis, based on an understanding of the political and economic contexts of skilled and unskilled work.