Table 2.

Summary of social classes resulting from LCA: labels and descriptions.

Class label	Description
Working	Members of the “working” class, comprising 22.9% of the sample (n = 279), have the lowest of all forms of capital and thus the fewest resources and advantages of all the classes. Members of this class report the lowest income and fewest property and cash savings assets. They also report the fewest social contacts, and their known social contacts are those with the lowest occupational prestige. Rates of educational attainment are lowest in the “working” class. Members comprising this class are the least likely of all classes to have completed University or College (20.8% reported completing University or College). They are the most likely of all classes to have achieved High/Secondary school as their highest level of education completed (53.4%) compared to other classes (which ranged from 18.2% of the “emerging affluent” class as the lowest to 36.4% of the “new middle” class as the next highest). Members of the “working” class had the lowest participation in emerging cultural activities. Members of this class are also most likely to be renting (30.3% of the overall sample) compared to other classes. This class are most likely to be living alone and most likely to be unemployed compared with other classes.
New worker	Members of the “new worker” class, comprising 12.3% of the sample (n = 151) have access to moderate income (more than the “working” class) but comparable to the “new middle” and the “emerging middle” classes, are low in property and savings assets (comparable to the “working” class). Social contacts amongst respondents comprising this class are higher than for the “working” class and not as high as scores for the “emerging middle” class. The occupational prestige of known contacts is higher than the scores for members of the “new middle” class. This class has the highest representation of respondents who reported having completed a trade certificate or apprenticeship (27.2%). Members of the “new worker” class are most likely to be working full-time than other classes.
Emerging middle	By comparison with the “working” and the “new worker” classes members of the “emerging middle” class, comprising 7.9% of the sample (n = 97), have more prestigious social networks (i.e., the score for occupational prestige of known contacts is higher than for the “working class”). Otherwise, members of the “emerging middle” class have access to similar amounts of economic resources as the “working” class, in fact they have slightly lower income than the “working” class but economic capital is comparable in terms of property and savings assets. Educational attainment amongst members of the “emerging middle” class is comparable to the “working” class, with members of the “emerging middle” class most likely to have completed Primary/Junior school but not have completed High/Secondary school. Unlike the “working” class, members of “emerging middle” class, while low in social contacts (like the “working” class), have social networks who work in occupations with high prestige.
Established middle	Members of the “established middle” class, comprising 9.6% of the sample (n = 118), report greater economic advantages (comparable the “emerging affluent” and “established affluent” classes) than the “working,” “new middle,” and “emerging middle” classes, but low social capital (comparable to the “working” class). This class is characterized by moderate levels of educational attainment. Members of the “established middle” class are most likely to be living with their partner and no children. They have a high representation of retirees.
New middle	Members of the “new middle” class, comprising 20.7% of the sample (n = 253), have low incomes and most comparable to the “emerging middle” class. They have more social contacts than members of the “emerging middle” class but their social contacts do not represent prestigious occupations like members the “emerging middle” class.
Emerging affluent	Members of the “emerging affluent” class, comprising 11.7% of the sample (n = 143), had amongst the highest income and assets (property and savings). Members of this class report low social contacts, but their known contacts represent occupations with high prestige. Members of the “emerging affluent” class were most likely to have completed University or College (67.8%). This class has the highest representation of retirees (along with members of the “established affluent” class) and students.
Established affluent	Members of the “established affluent” class, comprising 14.5% of the sample (n = 177) are the most well-rounded in all forms of capital. Overall, they have the most resources and advantages of all the classes. Members of this class are among those most likely to have completed University or College (60.5%) (comparable with the emerging affluent class). They have the highest participation in emerging cultural activities. Members of this class are most likely to be living with a partner and with children and a high representation of retirees.