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Occupational Mobility of Routine Workers

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  • Terhi Maczulskij

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that the decline in routine occupations and concurrent rise in abstract occupations are largely due to workers changing jobs. The reduction in routine manual tasks is further explained by workers transitioning to unemployment or retirement. In contrast, the increase in non‐routine manual occupations is primarily driven by the entry of young or unemployed individuals into the workforce. Plant closure information is used to identify involuntary job separations. These findings indicate that routine cognitive workers can adjust to smaller employment disruptions compared to routine manual workers among women. However, a contrasting pattern is observed for men.

Suggested Citation

  • Terhi Maczulskij, 2024. "Occupational Mobility of Routine Workers," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 86(5), pages 1198-1229, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:obuest:v:86:y:2024:i:5:p:1198-1229
    DOI: 10.1111/obes.12610
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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