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The Two Faces of Worker Specialization

Author

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  • Zsofiá L Bárány

    (CEU - Central European University Vienna, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research)

  • Kerstin Holzheu

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IZA - Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit - Institute of Labor Economics, CESifo - Center for Economic Studies and Ifo for Economic Research - CESifo Group Munich)

Abstract

We study how worker specialization—the distance between a worker's skill set and those prevalent in the labor market—shapes employment outcomes. Using US and French data, we first document that specialized jobs are characterized by asymmetric skill profiles and a scarcity of nearby employment opportunities. We incorporate these features into a random search model with multidimensional skills, mismatch penalties and skill complementarity. We show that specialization lowers job-finding rates due to a lack of suitable jobs, but raises re-employment wages via improved productivity. Empirical evidence from displaced workers in both countries confirms these predictions. Our findings reconcile competing views in the literature by showing that specialization entails trade-offs and is neither uniformly beneficial nor harmful.

Suggested Citation

  • Zsofiá L Bárány & Kerstin Holzheu, 2025. "The Two Faces of Worker Specialization," SciencePo Working papers hal-04358411, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpspec:hal-04358411
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-04358411v3
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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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