UK Socioeconomic Class

Socioeconomic Class

• Socioeconomic class is based on a person's job and economic standing in society.
• In industrial societies like the UK, social stratification relies heavily on economic inequality, covering things like income, wealth, and power.

Class System in the UK

• The UK's class divisions are often split into five groups.
• Lower class includes the long-term unemployed and homeless.
• The working class includes low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, such as factory workers and laborers, who are often stereotyped.
• The middle class is the largest group, including white-collar professionals like teachers, journalists, and nurses, who have moderate economic security and better health compared to manual workers.
• The upper class features barristers and chief executives with high incomes.
• Aristocrats include the royal family and those with wealth or titles, such as lords and barons.

Class Divisions

• The top class (aristocrats and upper class) makes up around 10% of the population.
• This class controls a significant share of the nation's wealth and holds influential positions as senior politicians or directors of major companies.
• In 2016, the richest 10% of UK households had incomes 24 times greater than the poorest 10%.
• The middle class makes up over 50% of the population.
• It features diverse people with varying education and economic security, from upper-middle class professionals to lower-middle class office workers.
• The bottom class (working and lower class) has decreased over the past 50 years because of changes in the economy.
• It includes manual workers and low-skilled service workers, who often lack union representation, limiting their ability to improve pay and working conditions.

ONS Classification of Socioeconomic Class

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses occupational categories to measure socioeconomic status.
• Higher managerial, administrative, and professional occupations: chief executive or judge.
• Lower managerial, administrative, and professional occupations: teacher or social worker.
• Intermediate occupations: clerical worker or nursery nurse.
• Small employers and own-account workers: shop owner or publican.
• Lower supervisory and technical occupations: plumber or mechanic.
• Semi-routine occupations: postal worker or security guard.
• Routine occupations: waitress or bar staff.
• Never worked or long-term unemployed.

Explore socioeconomic classes in the UK, including lower, working, middle, and upper classes. Learn about the roles, economic status, and typical professions associated with each class. Understand how social stratification relies on economic inequality.