An industrial sociologist will conduct research and apply sociological theory to solve problems in a variety of industries. Productivity, management, motivation, work organization, employee relations, market trends, technological change, labor distribution, and economic trends are all common areas of focus. An industrial sociologist spends much of his or her time studying people on the job, primarily looking for answers to how workers respond to change in the workplace collectively. Following that, he or she will formulate theory and make recommendations to improve the work environment and work relations based on data gathered from both quantitative and qualitative research efforts. Objectively, the job entails comprehending how people relate to their jobs, as well as the functions, processes, and individuals involved.
An industrial sociologist’s job description varies depending on the company or organization that is hiring for the position. Industrial sociologists are frequently employed by governments, but they may also work for private companies or non-profit organizations. While job descriptions for advertised positions are often inherently similar, the key differences are frequently the organization’s key focuses. A human resource department, for example, might hire an industrial sociologist to help draft a new company handbook, leveraging his or her expertise in applied theory with the goal of mitigating changes that could harm the company. A government organization, on the other hand, might hire industrial sociologists to investigate how economic trends might affect national productivity.
Despite the differences in job descriptions, the duties of an industrial sociologist are usually very similar. The ability to plan, direct, and supervise research projects is usually required. Analyzing the results of those and other studies related to an assigned project comes in second, while drawing conclusions based on that analysis and communicating them to executive management or others in the organization are usually critical to the job’s goals. Most of the time, the job will require interaction with a diverse group of people in a variety of settings, ranging from an office to working on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean.
A Master’s degree in sociology is usually required to become an industrial sociologist, while a PhD is often required for director positions. Industrial sociology programs are uncommon, but they do exist and are usually found in conjunction with urban sociology at major universities. Most employers value experience, which usually entails working in an internship during or immediately after graduate school.