Bringing in the Excluded? Aestheticlabour, skills and training in the 'new'economy

Abstract

Debates about the nature of work, employment and skill formation in the'new' economy have, to date, neglected the norton of 'aesthetic labour'. Identification by usof this 'new' form of labour provides the basis to review some of the implications in relationto skill acquisition and usage, current training provision and social exclusion as it effects anarea of the economy that is predicted to have massive jobs growth. Thus, the article brieflyreports on a pilot 'aesthetic skills' training programme developed within the Glasgow milieuto address some of these concems. Despite some concerns about social control, we considerthe role of such dedicated training in improving the employabllity of the long-tennunemployed and conclude that provision of this type has a role in addressing social exclusionin the labour market.