Job access at labour market entry and occupational achievement in the life course

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of the extent to which job access at labour market entry influences socio-economic status later in life. Multivariate models of workers' socio-economic status at the ages of 30, 40, and 50 were estimated using longitudinal data. The results show that job access at labour market entry is indeed instrumental in career advancement over the life course. The importance of job access at labour market entry increases significantly with age. Good job access at the beginning of the labour career evidently gives workers an advantage over others who start in less favourable labour markets.

Social origins, geographical mobility and occupational attainment in contemporary Italy

“…Geographical area of origin affects educational achievement because the uneven geographical distribution of schools and universities influences the costs of schooling, and also because of the impact on schooling of peers, who might be seen as a part of the geographical context (Bobonis & Finan, 2009). Moreover, since the division of labor among geographical areas shapes the occupational structure and thus the set of opportunities available to individual careers (Blau & Duncan, 1967;Moretti, 2012;Simpson, 1992;Van Ham, 2003), the place of birth also affects occupational attainment. Finally, the effect of GO on class attainment may be also driven by a spatial sorting: better-off families are more inclined to live in specific geographical areas providing advantage, for instance urban areas and big cities.…”

Immigrant workers’ (im)mobilities and their re‐emigration strategies

“…Studies on the mobility of immigrant workers (Chiswick, 1978; Chiswick et al , 2003; van Ham, 2001, 2003; Heath and Yu, 2005; Kochhar, 2005) have mostly focused on their labour market situation at destination in two particular dimensions: mobility in terms of wages and within the occupational ladder. Similarly, research into the evolution of immigrants’ wages over time is mostly rooted in the initial model developed by Chiswick (1978) (Borjas, 1994; Bloom et al , 1995; Bell, 1997).…”

Migration and Long-Distance Commuting Histories and Their Links to Career Achievement in Germany: A Sequence Analysis

“…The study found that people who accepted a job over a distance of 45 km or more are experiencing more career advancements compared to those who were less mobile. In a subsequent study, Van Ham (2003) showed that the positive link between spatial mobility and career advancement found previously for job-to-job mobility also holds for a longer period of time. He concluded that high mobility serves as an instrument to accumulate human capital more rapidly and is beneficial for the career in the long run.…”

“…3.1 Traditionally, it is assumed that work-related high mobility is positively associated with career achievement (e.g. Cooke 2003, 2008; Mulder & van Ham 2005; Lehmer & Ludsteck 2011; So et al 2001; Van Ham 2001, 2003). One reason is that mobile workers widen their job search area, thereby taking advantage of job opportunities outside their immediate surroundings and competing for more jobs.…”