WORKING AND AGEING IN LOW-QUALITY JOBS: EXAMPLES FROM WASTE COLLECTION AND CONSTRUCTION IN BULGARIA

Abstract

The paper analyses ageing and vulnerability in case of unemployment for low educated, low skilled workers who are employed in waste collection and construction in Bulgaria – both sectors with lowquality jobs. For most of the workers, employment in waste collection or construction is the only possible opportunity to remain at the labour market. The majority of employees in waste collection are illiterate and unskilled and some have previous experience in construction, steel industry, etc. Construction workers 50+ years of age are particularly vulnerable in case of unemployment because of their health and skills. Original work trajectories of waste and construction workers in Bulgaria are analysed in order to dispel the initial "obviousness" of the relationship between ageing, education and vulnerability. The analysis is based on original qualitative empirical data from case studies in Bulgarian waste collection and construction sectors with low-paid and low-qualified employees.