Over recent years much research has been conducted which examines the consequences of economic and social restructuring on different localities. Arguably, few places have experienced these processes to such detrimental affect as the Vauxhall ward in north Liverpool, which possesses one of the highest levels of unemployment in the country. During 1990 I was employed by the Eldonian Development Trust to conduct a skills survey of the population of Vauxhall, as a community led attempt to redress this situation. This thesis combines detailed analysis of the skills audit, entitled the Vauxhall Job Link Survey, with the results of a complementary, qualitative research approach, in an attempt to understand why such a large proportion of the area's population are excluded from paid employment. To develop its arguments the research also draws extensively on a variety of secondary data sources. The findings of the research are related to existing labour market and social polarisation theories. The thesis reveals that the dual processes of deindustrialisation and counterurbanisation have led to a small, residual population remaining in Vauxhall, which is poorly placed to compete for the limited number of job opportunities arising in the city. Detailed analysis by gender reveals that the position of many women is particularly poor. It is propounded that one reason for this is the particular patriarchal relationship that has developed in the area over the last two centuries, with very clearly defined roles of male and female economic activity.