The extent and cyclicality of career changes: Evidence for the UK

Carlos Carillo-Tudela, Lodewijk Visschers, Bart Hobijn, Powen She

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Using quarterly data for the U.K. from 1993 through 2012, we document that in economic downturns a smaller fraction of unemployed workers change their career when starting a new job.
Moreover, the proportion of total hires that involves a career change for the worker also drops in recessions. Together with a simultaneous drop in overall turnover, this implies that the number of career changes declines during recessions. These results indicate that recessions are times of subdued reallocation rather than of accelerated and involuntary structural transformation.
We back this interpretation up with evidence on who changes careers, which industries and occupations they come from and go to, and at which wage gains.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)18-41
Number of pages24
JournalEuropean Economic Review
Volume84
Early online date20 Oct 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2016

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Labour market turnover
  • occupational and industry mobility
  • wage growth

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