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The report of the Career Pathways Descriptive and Analytical Project focuses on “mid-level” occupations—occupations that typically require education or experience beyond a high school diploma or equivalent, but less than a four-year college degree. The report presents study findings on the magnitude of the differences between occupations in the career outcomes that entrants go on to experience within 10 years after entering, which occupations are associated with high wage growth, and what traits of occupations predict higher wage growth. The report also examines how career outcomes of entrants to an occupation vary among entrants with different characteristics.

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Research Questions

• From which occupations do entrants tend to go on to experience higher-than-average wage increases over time (i.e., which are more reliable “launchpads” to advancement)? Which characteristics distinguish launchpad occupations? To what extent is there variation in whether occupations are launchpads for workers with different backgrounds or experiences?

Key Takeaways

• There is meaningful variation in wage growth trajectories among workers starting in mid-level occupations.
• Several characteristics distinguish launchpad occupations. Though launchpad occupations can be found across occupational clusters, workers who enter occupations in “Knowledge” clusters such as Information Technology, Management/Finance, and Engineering/Science/Architecture see the highest average wage growth.
• Distinct worker experiences are associated with wage growth.
• Wage growth varies for workers with different backgrounds or experiences who start in the same mid-level occupation.
• When they make an occupational transition, women and workers of color are less likely to advance to higher-level jobs, and more likely to stay in the same occupational cluster.
• The Career Trajectories and Occupational Transitions Dashboard is a new source of labor market information that, together with other data sources, can be used to develop programs and policies that are responsive to the real-world experience of workers. The dashboard offers a way for users to interact with the data used in the project to explore: (1) how workers in mid-level occupations move through specific jobs and occupational clusters, and (2) how they experience wage growth over time. This information can be used by policymakers and practitioners to identify “launchpad” occupations associated with higher wage growth, look for clusters or occupational characteristics associated with wage growth, and understand where disparities exist and could be addressed.

Citation

Schwartz, D., Clarkwest, A., Hashizume, M., Kappil, T., Strawn, J. (2021). Abt Associates. Building Better Pathways: An Analysis of Career Trajectories and Occupational Transitions. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.