About
Professor Kate Hardy is a leading scholar in global labour studies at the University of Leeds, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of People, Work and Employment. Her research focuses on gender, sex work, and marginalized labour forms, emphasizing Marxist-Feminist theoretical frameworks. She has held visiting positions at institutions like the University of Buenos Aires and Rutgers University.
Her academic journey includes a PhD from Queen Mary University of London, followed by roles as Lecturer (2012–2016), Associate Professor (2016–2023), and currently Professor of Global Labour. Her research has been funded by the ESRC, European Parliament, and SSHRC, among others, addressing critical issues like early years education workforce sustainability, digital futures of work, and young women’s workplace transitions.
Key projects include the ESRC-funded 'L-Earning' study on young women’s work transitions and the 'Digit' Research Centre exploring digital technologies’ impact on work. She also led studies on childcare during the pandemic and workforce retention in early years education. Her work bridges academia and public policy, with frequent media appearances and parliamentary testimony.
Professor Hardy supervises PhD students in gender, labour, and development studies. Her teaching spans sociology, geography, and business management, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. She actively participates in research groups like the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC).
