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Are Jobs Available for Disadvantaged Workers in Urban Areas?

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  • H. J. Holzer
  • S. Danziger

Abstract

We use data from surveys of employers and households in four metropolitan areas to predict the degree of job availability for various types of disadvantaged workers, such as minorities, high school dropouts, and welfare recipients. We conduct simulations in which we “match” workers to jobs on the basis of skill, spatial, and racial characteristics of each. Our results show that roughly 9 to 17 percent of actual or potential jobseekers are likely to have difficulty finding work, even in tight labor markets. Simulated mismatch rates for disadvantaged workers are considerably higher. We conclude that disadvantaged workers face quite limited job availability, at least in the short run. The wages and benefits for jobs available to these workers are also quite low.

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  • H. J. Holzer & S. Danziger, "undated". "Are Jobs Available for Disadvantaged Workers in Urban Areas?," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1157-98, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    • Handle: RePEc:wop:wispod:1157-98
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephanie Bell & L. Randall Wray, "undated". "The War on Poverty After 40 Years: A Minskyan Assessment," Economics Public Policy Brief Archive ppb_78, Levy Economics Institute.
    2. Karen Chapple, 2002. "“I Name it and I Claim it—In the Name of Jesus, this Job is Mine†: Job Search, Networks, and Careers for Low-Income Women," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 16(4), pages 294-313, November.
    3. Susan Cpublicet-Lundquist & Greg J. Duncan & Kathryn Edin & Jeffrey R. Kling & Kristin Turney, 2006. "Neighborhood Effects on Barriers to Employment: Results From a Randomized Housing Mobility Experiment in Baltimore," Working Papers 890, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    4. Blumenberg, Evelyn A., 2003. "En-gendering Effective Planning: Spatial Mismatch, Low-Income Women, and Transportation Policy," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt7kc7v38f, University of California Transportation Center.
    5. Blumenberg, Evelyn, 2003. "En-gendering Effective Planning: Spatial Mismatch, Low-Income Women, and Transportation Policy," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt20m3505v, University of California Transportation Center.
    6. Michael A. Stoll & Harry J. Holzer & Keith R. Ihlanfeldt, 2000. "Within cities and suburbs: Racial residential concentration and the spatial distribution of employment opportunities across sub-metropolitan areas," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(2), pages 207-231.
    7. H. J. Holzer, "undated". "Employer Demand for Welfare Recipients and the Business Cycle: Evidence from Recent Employer Surveys," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1185-99, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    8. Vartanian, Thomas P., 1999. "Locational effects on AFDC exits: Examining local labor markets," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 607-631.
    9. Harry J. Holzer, 1999. "Will employers hire welfare recipients? Recent survey evidence from Michigan," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(3), pages 449-472.
    10. repec:pri:indrel:dsp01cr56n0997 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Harry J. Holzer & Steven Raphael & Michael A. Stoll, 2001. "Will Employers Hire Ex-Offenders? Employer Preferences, Background Checks, and Their Determinants," JCPR Working Papers 238, Northwestern University/University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research.

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