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The Growing Importance of Social Tasks in High-Paying Occupations: Implications for Sorting

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  • Guido Matias Cortes
  • Nir Jaimovich
  • Henry E. Siu

Abstract

We document that, since 1980, higher-paying occupations in the United States have experienced increases in the importance of tasks requiring social skills compared to lower-paying ones. Economic theory indicates that the occupational sorting of workers depends on their comparative advantage in performing occupational tasks. Hence, changes in the relative importance of tasks across occupations change sorting. We document that the increasing relative importance of social tasks in high-paying occupations can account for an important fraction of the increased sorting of women relative to men towards these occupations in recent decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Matias Cortes & Nir Jaimovich & Henry E. Siu, 2023. "The Growing Importance of Social Tasks in High-Paying Occupations: Implications for Sorting," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 58(5), pages 1429-1451.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:58:y:2023:i:5:p:1429-1451
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.58.5.0121-11455R1
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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