Chapter Overview
Workers, labor markets, unions, and the geography of work in the global economy.
This chapter examines labor as a central factor in economic geography. We explore how labor markets are geographically structured, why wages and working conditions vary so dramatically across space, and how workers organize to shape their economic circumstances. Understanding labor geography is essential for analyzing issues of inequality, migration, and economic development.
Chapter Resources
Required Reading
- Textbook: Chapter 6 Coe, Kelly & Yeung (2019)
- Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction
Download Slides
Video Content
- Multiple lecture sections
- Labor and work
- Watch at your own pace
Video Lectures
Section 6.1: Labor Markets & Geography ~15 minutes
How labor markets are spatially organized and why geographic factors shape employment opportunities and wages.
Section 6.2: Global Divisions of Labor ~15 minutes
Understanding how different types of work are distributed globally and the implications for workers in different regions.
Section 6.3: Labor Migration ~15 minutes
Why workers move across space, patterns of labor migration, and the impacts on sending and receiving regions.
Section 6.4: Labor Organizing & Worker Agency ~15 minutes
How workers organize collectively through unions and other means to improve their conditions and shape economic geography.
Key Takeaways
Labor Fundamentals
- Labor markets are geographically segmented, not unified global markets
- Wage differences reflect not just skills but also location, institutions, and power
- Workers are not passive—they actively shape economic landscapes through their decisions
- Labor migration is a key mechanism connecting different labor markets
Key Concepts
- Spatial Division of Labor: How different places specialize in different types of work
- Labor Market Segmentation: Barriers that divide workers into different market segments
- Skilled vs. Unskilled Labor: How skill categorization affects geographic mobility
- Worker Agency: The capacity of workers to shape their conditions collectively
- Precarious Work: Insecure, low-wage employment without benefits or protections
Discussion Questions
Consider these questions as you watch the lectures and complete the readings:
- Why do wages for similar work vary so much between different places?
- How has globalization changed the geography of work and employment?
- What factors influence workers' decisions to migrate for employment?
- How effective are unions and labor organizations in the contemporary economy?
- What is the future of work, and how will it reshape labor geography?