Reconciling Occupational Mobility in the Current Population Survey

Christian vom Lehn, Cache Ellsworth () and Zachary Kroff
Additional contact information
Cache Ellsworth: Columbia Business School

No 13509, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Measuring occupational mobility from the Current Population Survey using recall (retrospective) or linked panel responses (longitudinal) generates substantially different outcomes, both in levels and trends. Using a generalized method of moments technique, we estimate the actual level of occupational mobility and the measurement error in both of these measures for 1981-2018. Measurement error in longitudinal measures is large and has been worsening over time. However, actual occupational mobility is approximately 70% higher than retrospectively measures. Our estimated corrections imply workers in tradable occupations are less likely to switch occupations than previously believed, implying potentially lower welfare gains from trade.

Keywords: occupational switching; worker mobility; current population survey; measurement error; trade adjustment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C83 F16 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 85 pages
Date: 2020-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published in: Journal of Labor Economics, 2022, 40 (4), 1005 - 1051

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Journal Article: Reconciling Occupational Mobility in the Current Population Survey (2022)
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