The Puzzling Fixity of Multiple Job Holding Across Regions and Labor Markets

25 Pages Posted: 22 Jan 2016

See all articles by Barry T. Hirsch

Barry T. Hirsch

IZA Institute of Labor Economics; Georgia State University

Muhammad Husain

Georgia State University

John V. Winters

Iowa State University - Department of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: December 2015

Abstract

Multiple job holding rates differ substantially across U.S. regions, states, and metropolitan areas. Rates decrease markedly with respect to labor market size. These patterns have been largely overlooked, despite being relatively fixed over (at least) the 1998-2014 period. This paper explores explanations for these persistent differences. We account for over half of the mean absolute deviation in multiple job holding across local labor markets (MSAs). Most important in explaining variation in multiple job holding are worker characteristics, commute times, MSA ancestry shares, and, to a lesser extent, labor market churn. City size accounts for little of the variation once we condition on commute times.

Keywords: Multiple Job Holding, local labor markets, city size and regional differences, commuting costs

JEL Classification: J21, R23

Suggested Citation

Hirsch, Barry T. and Hirsch, Barry T. and Husain, Muhammad and Winters, John V., The Puzzling Fixity of Multiple Job Holding Across Regions and Labor Markets (December 2015). Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Research Paper Series No. 16-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2719588 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2719588

Barry T. Hirsch (Contact Author)

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
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Germany

Georgia State University ( email )

Department of Economics
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Atlanta, GA 30302-3992
United States
404-413-0880 (Phone)
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HOME PAGE: http://unionstats.gsu.edu/bhirsch

Muhammad Husain

Georgia State University ( email )

35 Broad Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
United States

John V. Winters

Iowa State University - Department of Economics ( email )

260 Heady Hall
Ames, IA 50011
United States

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