Exclusion and Inclusion Through a Discourse of Equality

Positioning the blue-collar worker in Industry 4.0

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46364/ejwi.v9i2.1337

Abstract

Blue-collar steel industry workers have traditionally been engaged in hard, physical, manual labour, but with the transformation of Industry 4.0, the need for manual human labour is reduced. In this article we explore the consequences of this transformation for the constructions of discursive positioning of the blue-collar worker. Analysing the material from 89 interviews from five steel companies in Sweden we analyse the the linguistic constructions of concept: what the blue-collar worker is and might become in Industry 4.0, and the consequences this concept has for the blue-collar worker as object: who the blue-collar worker is, and who (s)he is not. This shows that blue-collar workers are constructed as skilled and equal to white-collar workers, but also as deskilled and standardized.

Furthermore, inclusion into this equal and standardized workforce is constructed as being based on abilities and experiences that are only shared by a fragment of the population; the young, well-versed, socially skilled, and fast learners, with permanent contracts. The study contributes with an understanding of how social polarization is taking place in contemporary industry and points to the need for management, labour unions and to take the constructions of social inclusion and exclusion in daily interactions in the workplace seriously, in order for the development towards an innovative, human-centric Industry 5.0 to become just and fair.

Keywords: blue-collar workers; Industry 4.0; upskilling; deskilling; equality

Author Biographies

Eva Lindell, Mälardalen University

Eva Lindell is Associate Professor at the department of Organization and Management at Mälardalen University School of Business, Society and Engineering (EST). She is interested in digitalization in relation to changes in working life and labor market relations. Her empirical material derives mainly from various public and private organizations as well as freelance and creative workers. She takes an interest in different forms of qualitative methods with a special focus on discursive psychology frameworks.

Anette Hallin, Mälardalen University and Gävle University

Anette Hallin is Professor in Business Studies, Organization & Management at Mälardalen University, Sweden and at Gävle University. Her research is about how organising takes place as on-going and messy processes and how change happens through the connection of the technology/the material and organising/the social. As Head of Subject, she leads the work within the Organisation and Management group, which focuses on the Digitalisation of Management (DIGMA) and the transformations of organisations and societies (TRANSFORMA).

Bosse Jonsson, Mälardalen University

Bosse Jonsson is Associate Professor in Health Care Education at Mälardalen University. His research is about work integrated learning, the concept of health, employee participation and challenges for professions due to ongoing changes in work life. His analytical approaches mainly stem from discourse analysis, critical theory and action theory.

Published
2025-06-27
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): General Issue
Section
Articles

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