The Wage Mobility of Low-Wage Workers in a Changing Economy, 1968 to 2014

How are changes in the low-wage labor market affecting the mobility of workers out of low-wage work? I investigate changes in the wage mobility of workers starting employment spells in low wages using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics from 1968 to 2014 and discrete-time event history analysis. Abou...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Michael A. Schultz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russell Sage Foundation 2019-09-01
Series:RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.rsfjournal.org/content/5/4/159
Description
Summary:How are changes in the low-wage labor market affecting the mobility of workers out of low-wage work? I investigate changes in the wage mobility of workers starting employment spells in low wages using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics from 1968 to 2014 and discrete-time event history analysis. About half of all low-wage workers move to better wages within four years. Effects on mobility rates are significant by age, gender, race, education, occupation, and job characteristics. Mobility rates out of low-wage work have declined since the late 1990s. Little progress has been made in closing the gaps in mobility for women and nonwhites over time. I find evidence for the decline of firm internal labor markets and lower mobility for part-time workers over time.
ISSN:2377-8253
2377-8261