Considering the British class system, most people might catch a vague three-part tier: the upper, the middle, and the working classes. In fact, these traditional categories have already been outdated with time elapsing. According to the Great British Class Survey in 2011, the new UK class system appeared and was revealed as seven classes. What are the latest social classes in the UK? Why and how did it come about? In this blog, we will unveil the mystery of the class system in the UK.
What is the British Class System?
Like other European countries and most societies in the World, the British social structure is significantly influenced by its social class and forms a social system accordingly. This British class system has constantly evolved and updated under social changes such as the Industrial Revolution and World War II.
The Great British Class Survey (GBCS) in 2011, conducted as the current biggest study of social class in the UK by BBC Lab, proved that the traditional three-tier social classes were behind the times. The new seven types of British social classes came out as:
- Elite
- Established Middle Class
- Technical Middle Class
- New Affluent Workers
- Traditional Working Class
- Emergent Service Sector
- Precariat
British Social Class: Seven Types
The Great British Class Survey was conducted in cooperation with academic from the University of Manchester, London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of York. The results were based on a survey of 325,000 adults and 160,000 of them lived in England. The British social class in the survey was defined and measured according to the reported amount and kind of economic, cultural, and social capital.
1. Elite
The Elite is the most privileged group in the UK class system, distinct from the other six groups with very high economic, social, and cultural capital. Many of them are graduates of elite universities, in particular from Oxford, Cambridge, King’s College London, University College London, and LSE. Few are ethnic minorities and over half come from families that are already in the elite class.
- Percentage: 6%
- Occupations: CEO, IT directors, managers, judges, lawyers, accountants, doctors, dentists, Pharmacists, proffessors, etc.
- Average Houshold Income: £89,000
2. Established Middle Class
The established middle class is the second wealthiest, the largest and most gregarious group in the United Kingdom social structure. Most of them are graduates and come from professional and managerial families. The majority of them are professionals in public service or hold managerial jobs, and live outside large towns as “comfortably off, secure, and established.”
- Percentage: 25%
- Occupations: electrical engineers, occupational therapists, midwives, environmental professionals, police constables, etc.
- Average Houeshold Income: £47,000
3. Technical Middle Class
The technical middle class is also prosperous but has few social contacts and cultural capital. Most of them do research or scientific and technical work, and some graduated from well-renowned universities with strong reputations for science, including the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick, and the University of Southampton. They usually live in the suburbs and are less engaged socially and culturally.
- Percentage: 6%
- Occupations: medical radiographers, aircraft pilots, natural and social science professionals, physical scientists, etc.
- Average Household Income: £38,000
4. New Affluent Workers
New affluent workers are a young group in the British class system, featuring a moderate economy, poor social contacts, but good emerging cultural capital. Many of them come from non-middle-class families, and few have been to university. They are active in society and culture, and many live in old manufacturing centres.
- Percentage: 15%
- Occupations: electricians, postal workers, retail cashiers, checkout operatives, sales and retail assistants, housing officers, etc.
- Average Household Income: moderate
5. Traditional Working Class
The traditional working class is made up of people with poor economic, social, and cultural capital but who hold some housing assets in the UK class system. Few of them are graduates or are just seeking higher education at an open university. They work in traditional occupations and live in old industrial areas of England outside South East England and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Percentage: 14%
- Occupations: electronics technicians, care workers, cleaners, van drivers, residential, day, and domiciliary care, etc.
- Average Household Income: £13,000
6. Emergent Service Sector
The emergent service sector is a new and young group with poor economic capital but high emerging cultural capital and reasonable household income. They are usually young, with an average of 34; many are ethnic minorities and usually fill a wide variety of low-paid service sector jobs.
- Percentage: 19%
- Occupations: bar staff, chefs, nursing assistants, care workers, customer service occupations, musicians, etc.
- Average Household Income: £21,000
7. Precariat
The precariat is the poorest and most deprived but represents a large number of people in the class system in the UK. It is a new emerging social class that features insecurity of all kinds of capital. As you can imagine, few of them have been to university, and many live in old industrial areas away from urban areas like Stoke-on-Trent.
- Percentage: 15%
- Occupations: cleaners, van drivers, care workers, carpenters, caretakers, leisure and travel service occupations, shopkeepers, etc.
- Average Household Income: £8,000
Birtish Class System: Origin and Development
Early British society was divided hierarchically within a system that involved the hereditary transmission of occupation, social status and political influence. Just like in many other countries, your birth almost determines who you are and your class for your lifetime. Typical classes at that time are royal, aristocracy, Baronet, knight, gentleman, clergy, professional and businessman, yeoman, husbandman, and cottager or servant.
Changes took place after the Glorious Revolution from the end of the 17th century to the 20th century when the bourgeoisie appeared and gained status in the UK social class system together with notability and the working class. This is a vast transformation that signifies that other factors outside birth, like wealth, occupation, and education, became a more significant part of creating identity in Britain.
British Class System: Hightlights
- Only 39% of the people fit the old middle and working-class system: The established middle class and traditional working class are the only two groups that fit the old stereotypes of the British class system. The majority of the population needs to be redefined by more dimensions.
- Economic capital is not the only factor that determines your class: Traditionally a person’s class is largely determined by job and economic status. But sociologists also emphasise social and cultural dimensions. The technical middle class is prosperous but enjoys low social and cultual capital, while the emergent service works are scored highly on cultural capital.
- Class still matters in British society: As many as 77% states that social class affects someone’s opportunities in the UK a great deal’ or ‘quite a lot’ according to the latest British Social Attitudes report. People whose parents had a limited amount of money, education and social connections had had a much narrower choice during their lives.
US vs UK Class System
| British Class System | American Class System | |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | Elite, established middle class, technical middle class, new affluent workers, traditional working class, emergent service sector, precariat. | Capitalist class, upper middle class, lower middle class, working class, working-poor class, underclass. |
| Social Mobility | More limited due to the entrenched nature of social classes. Although mobility in education and economic opportunities have improved a lot in recent society, class-based divisions still remain visible. | More fluid due to the emphasis on individualism and the ideal of the “American Dream”. However, mobility is not as high as often portrayed, and the gap between the wealthy and the poor has been growing in recent decades. |
| Wealth and Income Distribution | Wealth and income inequality are significant in the UK, and focus on inherited wealth. The British economy also has a high degree of concentration of wealth in a small segment of the population like the Royal Family, aristocrats, and other landed gentry. | While inherited wealth does play a role, the culture of wealth generation through business ventures (e.g., technology, finance, and entertainment) is more prominent. The U.S. has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the developed world, with the top 1% owning a significant portion of the wealth. |
| Education and Socialization | Education is one of the primary means through which class distinctions are perpetuated in the UK. Elite educational institutions like Oxford and Cambridge are historically associated with the upper class, with social networks and connections made at these institutions continuing to influence people’s careers. | Education in the U.S. is viewed as a key mechanism for upward mobility, but access to quality education is often tied to socioeconomic status. Prestigious universities like Harvard or Stanford are often seen as gateways to the upper class, but the cost of education can be prohibitive. |
| Cultural Identity and Class | Class in Britain is often reflected in accent, manners, and behavior. The British are known for subtle cues and social rituals that signal one’s class position, such as the way one speaks, dresses, or carries themselves. | In the U.S., class is less frequently marked by accent or traditional behaviors. While cultural markers like fashion, speech, and lifestyle can still signal class position, there’s often a greater emphasis on income and occupation. |
| Labor and Occupation | Occupation in the UK plays a significant role in determining one’s class, with skilled workers, professionals, and business owners belonging to the middle and upper classes, while manual laborers and service workers form the working class. | In the U.S., occupations are often less rigidly tied to class identity. People may work in service, retail, or industrial jobs but still consider themselves as part of the middle class, especially in regions where jobs like blue-collar work are in demand. |
| Role of Government and Welfare | The British welfare state, particularly post-World War II, has tried to address issues of class inequality through healthcare (NHS), social housing, and public education. However, the class system remains influential, and the distribution of these services can sometimes reinforce inequalities. | The U.S. has a more limited welfare system compared to the UK, with a focus on private solutions and market-driven health insurance. While programs like Social Security and Medicare exist, poverty and inequality are more visible in the U.S. A greater emphasis is placed on individual responsibility and less on state intervention in the redistribution of wealth. |
Conclusion
The British class system still defines society, although one thousand years after William the Conqueror introduced the federal system. Thankfully, more and more factors like occupation and education play more crucial roles than just birth when determining a person’s class status, and more opportunities are offered as a ladder for people to change their classes.
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FAQ
What are the 7 British social classes?
The 7 British social classes are: elite, established middle class, technical middle class, new affluent workers, traditional working class, emergent service workers, and precariat. They are defined and measured according to the reported amount and kind of economic, cultural, and social capital.
What is the social hierarchy in the UK?
The social hierarchy in the UK is traditionally divided into classes: upper class, middle class, and working class. The upper class includes aristocracy and wealthy elites, while the middle class consists of professionals and skilled workers. The working class encompasses manual laborers and those in low-income jobs.
What is the UK class system?
The traditional UK class system consists of the upper class, middle class, and working class, and new class system reported by BBC lab is made up of elite, established middle class, technical middle class, new affluent workers, traditional working class, emergent service workers, and precariat.
Who is middle class in the UK?
The established middle class in the UK are people who work in the professions or management, such as electrical engineers, occupational therapists, midwives, police constables, town-planning officials, etc. The technical middle class people who do research or scientific and technical work, such as medical radiographers, aircraft pilots, natural and social science professionals, physical scientists, etc.
How much is the middle class income in the UK?
In the UK, the average household income for established middle class is £47,000 a year, and owned a home worth an average of £177,000 with average savings of £26,000.
What determines your class in the UK?
In the UK, class is determined by factors like wealth, occupation, education, and social status. The upper class typically inherits wealth and titles, the middle class includes professionals with higher education, and the working class is often defined by manual or service jobs. Social mobility plays a role, though limited.
