Can Workers in Low-End Occupations Climb the Job Ladder?. Issue 2 (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gabe, Todd; Abel, Jaison R.; Florida, Richard
• Is Part Of: Economic development quarterly. Volume 33:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: low-wage jobs -- job ladder -- labor market dynamics; Economic development -- Periodicals; Economics -- Periodicals; United States -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 330.973
• DOI: 10.1177/0891242419838324
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-2424

Abstract

There is growing concern over rising economic inequality, the decline of the middle class, and a polarization of the U.S. workforce. This study examines the extent to which workers in the United States transition from low-end to higher-quality occupations, and explores the factors associated with such a move up the job ladder. Using data covering the expansion following the Great Recession (2011-2017) and focusing on short-term (i.e., less than 1 year) labor market transitions, the authors find that just slightly more than 5% of workers in low-end occupations moved into a higher-quality occupation. Instead, around 70% of workers in low-end occupations stayed in the same occupation, 11% exited the labor force, 7% became unemployed, and 6% switched to a different low-end occupation. Study results point to the importance of educational attainment in helping workers successfully climb the job ladder.