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Confused about Careers? Untangling Occupational Mobility, Miscoding and Distance

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Listed:
  • Carlos Carrillo-Tudela

    (Department of Economics, University of Essex)

  • Saman Darougheh

    (Danmarks Nationalbank)

  • Ludo Visschers

    (U. Carlos III de Madrid and Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh)

Abstract

Occupational mobility and its relation with economic fundamentals is obscured by mistakes when assigning occupational codes. We correct ('de-garble') occupation patterns, using the heterogeneous probabilities with which a worker in a certain occupation appears as working in another. This leads to stronger empirical patterns of occupational mobility with 'task distance' based on O*NET, across age, the business cycle and with wage changes. Miscoding between occupation pairs reflects task similarities and can be used as a distance measure itself, and appears helpful to distinguish among occupations close in task space. Overall, taking into account miscoding, occupations and tasks tend to matter (even) more for economic outcomes than standard approaches suggest.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Carrillo-Tudela & Saman Darougheh & Ludo Visschers, 2025. "Confused about Careers? Untangling Occupational Mobility, Miscoding and Distance," Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series 320, Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh.
    • Handle: RePEc:edn:esedps:320
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gueorgui Kambourov & Iourii Manovskii, 2008. "Rising Occupational And Industry Mobility In The United States: 1968-97," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 49(1), pages 41-79, February.
    2. Maxim Poletaev & Chris Robinson, 2008. "Human Capital Specificity: Evidence from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and Displaced Worker Surveys, 1984-2000," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(3), pages 387-420, July.
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