Occupational mobility and the change in the occupational structure in Britain and Germany, 1993–2008

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between occupational mobility and the change in the occupational structure at the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) two-digit level in Britain and Germany between 1993 and 2008. We find that although gross mobility rates in Britain were almost 3 times as high as those in Germany, this did not translate into more structural change, as measured by the Lilien index. Furthermore, we find that net mobility flows are more closely correlated with structural change in Germany than Britain, leading to the conclusion that the more highly regulated occupational system in Germany does not hinder occupational change.