4.1.4 Practice: Why Do People Work?

Practice

Sociology Name: Chuck Adkins

Points Possible:30
Date:

ASSIGNMENT

Why Do People Work?

(5 points)

1. In this activity you will explore the composition of the labor force in one state in the

United States. First, look at the jobs below and identify which labor market they fall

under: primary, secondary, or tertiary.

 Types of Jobs Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary?

Teacher
secondary

Auto worker
primary

Waiter secondary

Factory worker primary

Coal miner tertiary

Farmer
tertiary

Lawyer
secondary

Professional musician
secondary

2. How do you think a weak economy affects jobs? Hint: In a weak economy,

unemployment rates tend to be high and spending low. I feel like that makes the

countries more poor

3. To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

The economy has almost no impact on me. I'm sure I will be able to find a good job once

I'm done with school. I believe that this is entirely false

4. To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

I don't worry about making enough money. I'm sure my job will cover my expenses. How

big could they really be.

I do not agree with this

5. From a sociological perspective, why do you think work is a necessary function of

society? That is pretty much the only way you can make money
(15 points, 5 points per question)

You will now examine the labor force in Texas and explore the jobs that are growing as

well as those that are declining. You will then compare job growth in Texas to that in the

rest of nation and analyze any differences you see.

1. First, examine the unemployment rate in Texas from 2006 to 2016. (Data Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics)

● What was the unemployment rate in January 2006?

5
 ● What was the unemployment rate in January 2008?
4
● What was the unemployment rate in January 2010?
8
● What was the unemployment rate in January 2013?
6
● What was the unemployment rate in January 2015?
4

2. Next, analyze the growth and decline of jobs in selected industries in Texas. Look closely
at the chart below and then answer the questions that follow it.

Texas Number of Employees

(in Thousands)

Industries January January January Job

2008 2010 2015 Loss/Gain
(2008 to
2015)

Mining and 216.9 191.3 315.4 + 98.5

Logging

Construction 669.9 568.2 675.4 + 5.1

Manufacturing 936.3 814.3 899.1 - 37.2

Trade, 2136.7 2027.6 2364.2 + 227.5

Transportation,
and Utilities

Information 220.0 197.6 200.2 - 19.8

Financial 647.3 623.0 712.7 + 65.4

Activities

Professional and 1340.6 1255.4 1586.7 + 264.1

Business
Services

Education and 1273.5 1364.5 1553.8 + 280.3

Health Services

Leisure and 1001.9 996.5 1215.0 + 213.1

Hospitality
Other Services 360.6 359.6 413.3 + 52.7

Government 1759.9 1834.9 1839.3 + 79.4

A) Did unemployment in Texas rise or fall between 2008 and 2015? Which industries

contributed the most to the change in the unemployment rate during those seven years?

Education and health did and taxes rose

B) Which industry had the greatest job loss between 2008 and 2010? Try to guess what

may have caused that industry to decline. Education and health and I think its because

lack of government funding

3. Now compare the growth or decline of jobs in selected industries in Texas to the

national totals for those industries (listed below).

National Number of Employees

(in Thousands)

Industries January January January Job

2008 2010 2015 Loss/Gain
(2008 to
2015)

Mining and 767 787 810 + 43

logging

Construction 7,162 5,526 6,438 - 724

Manufacturing 13,406 11,723 12,324 - 1,082

 Trade, 26,293 24,921 26,932 + 639
transportation,
and utilities

Information 2,984 2,670 2,761 - 223

Financial 8,145 7,613 8,090 - 55

activities

Professional 17,735 17,186 19,633 - 549

and business
services

Education and 18,838 19,987 22,043 + 1,898

health services

Leisure and 13,436 13,219 15,122 + 1,686

hospitality

Other services 5,515 5,447 5,589 + 74

Government 22,555 22,080 22,316 - 239

A) Did the industries that grew or declined in Texas follow a similar pattern to that in the

rest of the nation from 2008 to 2015? If not, how was the pattern in Texas different?

They grew
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