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A-Level · Sociology

GSOC.AL40 Work and Welfare: Changing Work, Worklessness and Welfare Policy

AQA 7192 · Calculators not allowed · about 75 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. For questions marked AO2 or AO3 use short, linked sentences; for the final question write in full sentences. Allow about 75 minutes for the whole pack.

Which of the following is an example of a zero-hours contract in the context of employment in the UK?

A) A permanent contract with guaranteed 35 hours per week
B) A contract where the employer does not guarantee any minimum hours and calls staff in as needed
C) A fixed-term contract for one year with fixed weekly hours
D) A voluntary internship with no written agreement

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Define what sociologists mean by 'reskilling' in the context of changes to work under globalisation and technological change.

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Identify and explain one reason why automation might increase job insecurity for some workers.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Describe one feature of the 'gig economy' as it affects people's working lives in the UK.

(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)

Identify and explain two sociological reasons why some individuals become long-term unemployed.

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Define the Beveridge model of the welfare state as it is used in discussions of UK welfare provision.

(Total for Question 6 is 2 marks)

Outline one difference between a universal welfare system and a residual welfare system.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Describe one practical problem the government faces when trying to help long-term unemployed people find work.

(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)

Item A: A small town has lost a manufacturing plant, leaving 800 workers redundant. Local vacancies are mainly in part-time service jobs and gig work with no guaranteed hours. The local jobcentre reports many former plant workers lack digital skills and formal qualifications. The UK government offers a package of retraining courses, stricter benefit conditionality requiring job search evidence, and top-up wage subsidies for part-time hires.

(a)Using Item A, identify two barriers the former plant workers face when trying to take local jobs.(2)

(b)Using Item A, explain one way the government's wage subsidy offer might help these workers.(2)

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

Using Item A and your knowledge, explain two sociological criticisms of relying mainly on retraining courses to solve local long-term unemployment.

(Total for Question 10 is 4 marks)

Outline one ethical issue policymakers must consider when increasing benefit conditionality, such as stricter job search requirements.

(Total for Question 11 is 2 marks)

Describe two features of Universal Credit as a UK welfare reform.

(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)

Identify and explain one reason some sociologists support wage subsidies as a welfare-to-work policy.

(Total for Question 13 is 4 marks)

Compare a welfare pluralist view and a residual view of how welfare should be provided in society.

(Total for Question 14 is 4 marks)

Explain two reasons why some sociologists argue that Universal Credit may increase insecurity for low-paid workers.

(Total for Question 15 is 4 marks)

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that welfare-to-work policies are the best way to reduce long-term worklessness. Use relevant sociological perspectives and evidence where appropriate.

Using your knowledge of sociological perspectives, evaluate the extent to which welfare-to-work policies, such as conditionality, training and wage subsidies, are the most effective response to long-term worklessness.

(Total for Question 16 is 12 marks)

Mark scheme · GSOC.AL40 Work and Welfare: Changing Work, Worklessness and Welfare Policy

Question 1

B1 B (an employer does not guarantee minimum hours and calls staff in as needed)
Answer: B

Question 2

B1 identifies reskilling as workers learning new skills to adapt to changes in technology or job requirements (oe)
B1 development, e.g. retraining to use new software or to move from manual tasks to more technical tasks
Answer: Reskilling is workers learning new skills to adapt to changes in technology or job requirements, for example retraining to use new software or to move from manual tasks to more technical roles.

Question 3

B1 identifies that automation can replace routine tasks performed by workers
B1 explains this reduces demand for those workers' labour, creating job loss risk for those in routine roles
B1 identifies that not all workers can easily move to new roles requiring different skills
B1 explains this means some workers face long-term unemployment or insecure, lower-paid jobs
Answer: Automation can replace routine tasks done by workers, reducing demand for those jobs and creating risk of job loss; because not all workers can easily retrain, some may face long-term unemployment or move into insecure, lower-paid roles.

Question 4

B1 identifies a feature, e.g. short-term, task-based work accessed through digital platforms
B1 development, e.g. workers may have flexible hours and choose tasks through an app
B1 further development, e.g. often limited employment rights such as sick pay or guaranteed hours
Answer: The gig economy involves short-term, task-based work accessed through digital platforms; workers often have flexible hours and choose tasks via apps, but typically have limited employment rights like no sick pay or guaranteed hours.

Question 5

B1 identifies one reason, e.g. structural economic change reducing demand for certain jobs
B1 explains how the decline of industries like manufacturing leads to job losses and localised unemployment
B1 identifies a second reason, e.g. individual-level barriers such as lack of skills or qualifications
B1 explains how lacking relevant skills makes it harder for someone to find new work, prolonging unemployment
Answer: Structural economic change can reduce demand for certain jobs, for example decline in local manufacturing causes job losses and local unemployment; individual barriers like lack of skills or qualifications make it harder to find new roles, prolonging unemployment.

Question 6

B1 identifies Beveridge as advocating a universal welfare state providing benefits to prevent the 'five giants' of want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness
B1 development, e.g. universal provision paid from taxation designed to support citizens across the life course
Answer: The Beveridge model advocates a universal welfare state providing benefits to prevent the 'five giants' (want, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness), with universal provision paid from taxation to support citizens across the life course.

Question 7

B1 identifies difference, e.g. universal systems provide benefits to all citizens while residual systems target only those in need
B1 development, e.g. universal benefits might include state pensions or child benefit given to most people
B1 further development, e.g. residual systems mean benefits are means-tested and often smaller, given only after other support fails
B1 example or application, e.g. means-tested unemployment benefits are aimed at the poorest rather than all citizens
Answer: Universal systems provide benefits to all citizens, for example state pensions or broadly available child benefit, while residual systems target only those judged in need with means-tested, often smaller benefits that act as a safety net.

Question 8

B1 identifies a problem, e.g. matching training to local job vacancies
B1 development, e.g. training may not fit the types of jobs available, leaving people trained for skills employers do not need
B1 further point, e.g. transport or childcare barriers can prevent people from taking jobs even if vacancies exist
Answer: A practical problem is matching training to local job vacancies: training may not fit local employer needs, and factors like transport or childcare can prevent people taking available jobs even when they have new skills.

Question 9

(a) B1 a correct barrier, e.g. lack of digital skills
(a) B1 a second correct barrier, e.g. local vacancies are mainly part-time or gig work with no guaranteed hours
(a) Answer: Lack of digital skills, and that local vacancies are mainly part-time or gig jobs with no guaranteed hours.
(b) B1 identifies how a wage subsidy could make employers more willing to hire
(b) B1 explains development, e.g. reducing employers' costs could lead to more part-time hires and quicker re-employment for redundant workers
(b) Answer: A wage subsidy could make employers more willing to hire by reducing their costs, which may increase part-time offers and help redundant workers regain employment more quickly.

Question 10

B1 identifies one criticism, e.g. training may not match available jobs or employer needs
B1 explains using Item A, e.g. the town's vacancies are mainly gig and part-time roles where formal training may be less valued
B1 identifies second criticism, e.g. structural factors like lack of local investment or childcare/transport barriers limit effectiveness
B1 explains with development, e.g. even with new skills, if employers do not create suitable jobs or people cannot travel to work, retraining alone will not solve unemployment
Answer: One criticism is training may not match local employer needs, and in Item A local vacancies are mainly gig and part-time roles where formal retraining may be less useful. A second criticism is structural issues like lack of local investment and transport or childcare barriers, meaning people may still be unable to take jobs even after retraining.

Question 11

B1 identifies an ethical issue, e.g. risk of punishing vulnerable people who cannot meet conditions due to illness or caring responsibilities
B1 development, e.g. sanctions could push people into poverty or harm wellbeing if safeguards are inadequate
Answer: An ethical issue is the risk of punishing vulnerable claimants who cannot meet conditions because of illness or caring duties; sanctions could push these people into poverty or harm their wellbeing if safeguards are insufficient.

Question 12

B1 identifies a feature, e.g. Universal Credit combines several means-tested benefits into one monthly payment
B1 development, e.g. it merges jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and tax credits among others
B1 identifies a second feature, e.g. has stronger conditionality and an emphasis on moving claimants into work
B1 development, e.g. claimants must show job search activity and can face sanctions if they do not
Answer: Universal Credit combines several means-tested benefits into one monthly payment, merging payments such as jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit, and emphasises stronger conditionality by requiring claimants to show job search activity and potentially face sanctions.

Question 13

B1 identifies a reason, e.g. wage subsidies lower employer cost and encourage hiring
B1 explains how this can increase job opportunities for unemployed people
B1 identifies a further reason, e.g. subsidised work can provide on-the-job experience improving future employability
B1 explains development, e.g. gaining references and recent work history can help people secure unsubsidised roles later
Answer: Wage subsidies lower employer costs and encourage hiring, increasing job opportunities for unemployed people; they also provide on-the-job experience and references, improving future employability and the chances of securing unsubsidised roles.

Question 14

B1 identifies pluralism as support for mixed provision from state, market and voluntary sectors
B1 explains pluralist idea that diversity allows choice and fills gaps state provision may not cover
B1 identifies residualism as favouring minimal state role and support only as a last resort
B1 explains residualists argue extensive universal welfare can reduce personal responsibility and be unaffordable
Answer: Pluralists support mixed welfare provision from state, market and voluntary sectors, arguing diversity gives choice and fills gaps, while residualists favour a minimal state role providing support only as a last resort, arguing that universal provision can reduce personal responsibility and be unaffordable.

Question 15

B1 identifies reason one, e.g. monthly payment timing can be problematic for people used to weekly wages
B1 explains development, e.g. large monthly payments followed by delays or advances can cause budgeting difficulties and risk of rent arrears
B1 identifies reason two, e.g. strict conditionality and sanctions can reduce income security when employment is unpredictable
B1 explains development, e.g. low-paid or gig work with variable hours can make meeting conditions hard, risking sanctions and loss of income
Answer: Monthly payment timing can cause budgeting problems for workers used to weekly pay, risking rent arrears, and strict conditionality with sanctions can reduce income security for those in unstable or variable-hour work who may struggle to meet requirements.

Question 16

Level 1 (1-3): Simple, limited points about welfare-to-work policies, with little development. May describe a single policy without linking to sociological perspectives or provide unsupported assertion about effectiveness.
Level 2 (4-6): Some relevant knowledge and application. Describes welfare-to-work policies and gives basic reasons why they might help, with limited use of sociological perspectives or evidence. Some attempt at evaluation, but unbalanced.
Level 3 (7-9): Clear knowledge and application. Explains how welfare-to-work policies can reduce worklessness using sociological ideas such as human capital and behaviourist approaches, and offers criticisms from structural and feminist perspectives. Some balanced assessment and examples.
Level 4 (10-12): Comprehensive, well-developed response with effective evaluation. Uses competing sociological perspectives, for example New Right support for conditionality, social democratic or structural critiques that stress job creation and local investment, and feminist concerns about care responsibilities. Reaches a supported conclusion on how far welfare-to-work policies alone are sufficient.
Indicative content:
- Points that support welfare-to-work policies: conditionality can motivate active job search; training increases skills and employability; wage subsidies reduce employer risk and create opportunities; policymakers can target support to local needs.
- New Right perspective: supports conditionality and work incentives, arguing benefits should encourage work and reduce dependency.
- Human capital perspective: emphasises reskilling and training to match employer needs, improving long-term prospects.
- Structural criticisms: decline in local job opportunities, automation and lack of investment mean training alone cannot create jobs; need for demand-side policies and regional investment.
- Feminist critique: welfare-to-work can punish carers if childcare and caring responsibilities are not addressed; conditionality may unfairly sanction those with caring duties.
- Practical and ethical issues: sanctions can increase hardship, digital access and budgeting challenges under Universal Credit may limit policy effectiveness.
- Evidence from Item-like contexts: where vacancies are low or insecure (gig work), wage subsidies and retraining may have limited effect unless job quality and availability improve.
- Conclusion should weigh perspectives, recognising welfare-to-work can be part of a solution but is unlikely to be sufficient on its own without job creation, supportive services and safeguards.

Work and Welfare: Changing Work, Worklessness and Welfare Policy - Worksheets, Questions and Revision