Careers and Employment Relations

Abstract

As usually conceived of in research on the labor market, careers are time trajectories in earnings, occupational positions, or socioeconomic status. The study of careers is important for two reasons. First, individuals’ feelings of welfare and well-being are presumably more dependent on long trajectories in socioeconomic rewards than on outcomes at a particular point in time. It is well established that long trajectories in socioeconomic rewards shape consumption decisions through what economists call permanent income and, therefore, presumably the life chances and lifestyles of different groups. The study of careers informs us about these over time variations. Second, the study of careers gives important information about the operation of labor market structures. Some labor market structures, such as internal labor markets, are deliberately designed to shape career patterns; in general, career trajectories will reflect the opportunities and constraints provided by the different types of employment relationships that define labor market structures.