Abstract

The financial meltdown of 2008 triggered the most far-reaching recession in almost a century, sending shockwaves across the globe. ‘Greedy bankers’ and stock market brokers are often apportioned the blame for the crisis, yet to date it is public sector workers who have suffered most from the subsequent fallout with millions losing their jobs and many more forced to accept pay cuts and pay freezes. This chapter explores how austerity has affected those working in Further Education (FE) in England and Ireland and considers what this reveals about the standing of this sector in both countries.