Employment is a key part of global development because work affects income, poverty, gender equality, education, health and life chances. In AQA Global Development, students often need to understand that paid work does not automatically mean development. Keith Hart introduced the idea of the informal economy, showing how many people survive through unregulated work outside formal contracts, wages and protections. Frobel, Heinrichs and Kreye argued that the new international division of labour means production is often moved to poorer countries where wages are lower and regulation may be weaker. This links to outsourcing, export processing zones and the power of TNCs. Elson and Pearson examined women’s employment in global factories, arguing that women may gain wages and independence, but are often placed in low-paid, insecure and highly controlled work. Diane Elson and Guy Standing are also useful for discussing the feminisation of labour and insecure global employment. Marxist and dependency theorists argue that employment in poorer countries can reproduce exploitation when profits flow to richer countries and TNCs, while workers remain low paid. Research by organisations such as the ILO and UNICEF is useful for discussing informal work, child labour, forced labour, seasonal work and weak labour protection. Overall, sociologists ask whether employment genuinely improves development, or whether it creates low-paid, insecure and exploitative work within global capitalism.
This activity helps students apply sociological ideas about employment in the developing world. Students answer scenario-based questions on informal work, outsourcing, women’s employment, exploitation, child labour and seasonal work. Each scenario asks students to identify the best sociological concept, then gives feedback linking the example to research and theory. The aim is to practise applied knowledge: students need to recognise how work can both support and limit development. As students complete the quiz, they should think carefully about whether employment creates income, independence and opportunity, or whether it reflects poverty, weak regulation, gender inequality and exploitation by global companies.
You can download the information sheet to help you complete the activity below:
Employment in the Developing World Scenario Quiz
Answer scenario-based questions on informal work, outsourcing, women’s employment, exploitation, child labour and seasonal work. Use the feedback to link each example to sociological research and theory.
Informal work
Work without formal contracts, stable pay, social protection or legal security.
Outsourcing
Companies move production or services to lower-wage economies to reduce costs.
Women’s employment
Paid work may increase independence but can also involve low pay and double burdens.
Exploitation
Workers may face low pay, unsafe conditions, long hours and weak labour rights.
Child labour
Children may work because of poverty, debt, family survival and weak regulation.
Seasonal work
Employment may only be available at particular times, creating insecure income.
Choose a scenario
Research reference tool
Use these research links after each scenario to strengthen your exam answers.
Revision summary: employment and development
- Employment can support development by creating income, skills, independence and tax revenue.
- Employment can limit development if work is low paid, unsafe, insecure or exploitative.
- Informal work can help people survive, but often lacks contracts, benefits and legal protection.
- Outsourcing can create jobs, but may reflect a global division of labour where poorer countries compete through low wages.
- Women’s employment may increase independence, but women may face a gender pay gap, discrimination and a double burden of paid and unpaid work.
- Child labour is linked to poverty, family survival, weak regulation and limited education.
- Seasonal work can provide income but often creates insecurity, migration and vulnerability.
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