State Patterns of Occupational Earnings: Implications for Long-Term Growth

Roger F. Riefler
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Roger F. Riefler: University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Economic Development Quarterly, 2007, vol. 21, issue 1, 34-48

Abstract: This article focuses on the role of real and money wages in a state’s growth (macro) and location (micro) prospects. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey for 2000 were used first to indirectly estimate state cost-of-living (COL) indices. These COL indices are the major contribution of this article. The methodology employed, in combination with the current 6-month reporting cycle for the OES, should eventually allow the computation of accurate inflation indices for states and regions. By applying these COL indices to OES- reported money wages by occupation, estimates of real wages are derived. Likely growth scenarios, both in terms of total employment and for certain key occupations, are investigated under two assumptions: first, that workers positively respond, by entry and migration, to those areas having above-average real wages, and second, that capital flows respond to below-average money wages.

Keywords: state cost of living; money and real wages by occupation; regional growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:21:y:2007:i:1:p:34-48

DOI: 10.1177/0891242406294927

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