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This is a synthesis report of a two-year study on ‘Employment and working conditions in high-tech producer service industries’, carried out in 1987–1988 at the request of the Commission of the European Communities (EC). These industries are at the leading edge of various economic and technological developments in all EC member states. Yet at present, not much is known about the social aspects of work in them. Accordingly, the study attempts to fill some notable gaps in our current knowledge on this subject.

This article summarizes a recent UK study which found that most new jobs created in the UK since 1981 have resulted from the externalization and subcontracting of service functions previously performed in-house.

This article focuses on a major recent publication from the UK Department of Employment, Structure and Employment Prospects of the Service Industries, by J.A.S. Robertson, J.M. Briggs and A. Goodchild.1 The most comprehensive treatment of the UK service sector to date, it offers fresh insights on the structure and performance of the service sector, international comparisons, linkages with other sectors of the economy, and employment forecasts.

This report looks at technological impact on organizational design and discusses a study carried out by the Institute of Manpower Studies on organizational design and new technology.