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Job polarization on local labor markets?

Author

Listed:
  • Uwe Blien

  • Wolfgang Dauth

Abstract

In most industrialized countries, employment has grown predominately in jobs at the upper and lower tails of the wage distribution, while employment in the middle part of the distribution has stagnated or declined. This process of job polarization is well documented for a number of countries. We propose a straightforward way to measure the actual magnitude of job polarization and use this measure to compare polarization across German local labor markets. Job polarization almost exclusively occurs in urban areas where the hypothesis of routine biased technological change is most likely to prevail.

Suggested Citation

  • Uwe Blien & Wolfgang Dauth, 2016. "Job polarization on local labor markets?," ERSA conference papers ersa16p114, European Regional Science Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa16p114
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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