Labor Market Structure in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Occupational mobility data from the United Kingdom is used to operationalize a typology of labor markets, derived from the work of Althauser and Kalleberg, based upon occupation, rather than firm or industry. It is shown that not only are there distinct differences in access to firm internal labor markets and occupational labor markets based upon occupation, but also differences between men and women and full- and part-time workers. Within the same occupation, there is some evidence for the existence of separate labor markets for men and women, and for full-time and part-time workers. Part-time employees are less likely than full-timers to gain access to internal labor markets and are thereby disadvantaged during times of economic recession.