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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Occupational mobility within and between skill clusters: An empirical analysis based on the skill-weights approach
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Regula Geel
  • Uschi Backes-Gellner
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training
Publisher SpringerOpen
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1877-6345
Volume 3
Number 1
Page Range 21 - 38
Date 2011
Abstract Text This paper applies Lazear’s skill-weights approach (2009) to analyze the specificity of skill combinations of various occupations and its effects on occupational mobility and wages. The results show that the more specific an occupation, the smaller the probability of an occupational change. We also identify clusters of occupations characterized by similar skill combinations and find that employees in specific occupations have a comparatively higher probability of changing occupations within a skill cluster than between skill clusters. Moreover, occupational mobility within a skill cluster results in wage gains, while between clusters it results in wage losses. Therefore, the acquired skill combination and the resulting skill cluster, rather than the occupation per se, crucially determines mobility. Thus, for educational policies, it is more important to study whether a skill cluster is sustainable than an occupation.
Free access at DOI
Digital Object Identifier 10.1007/BF03546496
Other Identification Number merlin-id:620
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