Job Polarization and Jobless Recoveries

38 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2012 Last revised: 5 Feb 2023

See all articles by Nir Jaimovich

Nir Jaimovich

University of Zurich

Henry Siu

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Vancouver School of Economics

Date Written: August 2012

Abstract

Job polarization refers to the shrinking share of employment in middle-skill, routine occupations experienced recently, over the last 35 years. Jobless recoveries refers to the slow rebound in aggregate employment following recent recessions, despite recoveries in aggregate output. We show how these two phenomena are related. First, essentially all employment loss in routine occupations occurs in economic downturns. Second, jobless recoveries in the aggregate can be accounted for by jobless recoveries in the routine occupations that are disappearing.

Suggested Citation

Jaimovich, Nir and Siu, Henry, Job Polarization and Jobless Recoveries (August 2012). NBER Working Paper No. w18334, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2136004

Nir Jaimovich (Contact Author)

University of Zurich ( email )

Henry Siu

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Vancouver School of Economics ( email )

6000 Iona Dr
Vancouver, BC V6T 1L4
Canada

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