Some Recent Changes in the Swedish Occupational Structure

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Abstract
After a study by G. Therborn, the Swedish social structure has often been considered rather stable during recent decades. The aim of the present study is to shake this assertion by examining the main changes that took place between 1960 and 1975. As a preparatory step, the developmental trends of the three comprehensive sectors of the economy are followed from 1870 to 1977. Thereafter the economically active population is clas sified into five main occupational categories, and the development of these categories is examined from 1960 to 1975 on the basis of detailed figures from four consecutive population censuses. The ostensible stability of the manual category between 1930 and about 1960 turns out to be caused by a superposition of the contrasting developmental trends of two main sub categories, namely the industrial workers proper and the employed ag rarian labourers. On the theoretical level an assertion is made according to which both the industrial sector of the economy and the manual occupa tional category, and also their common main constituting component- the group of industrial workers proper- are all determined in their relative size by the main mobility processes during the extensive and intensive periods of industrialization. Their seeming 'stability' can be but a temporary dynamic balance, and the general trend of change can always be described by some kind of convex diagram. In present-day Sweden the relative size of the manual occupational category is on the second, descending slope of its diagram of change, in accordance with the advanced industrial stage of socio-economic development. Finally, some predictions are made about the long-term future prospects regarding the relative proportions of the three comprehensive sectors of the economy.

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