Workers’ Mobility Across Occupations : Complementary Insights from the Human Capital, Migration, and Social Stratification Literature

A growing body of literature shows how intragenerational occupational mobility affects economic dynamics and social stratification. However, a systemic overview for more comprehensive research and public policies is still missing. Using methods from structured literature reviews and network science, we reveal a segmented research landscape around three communities: (1) human capital theory, (2) social stratification theory, and (3) migration studies. Human capital research uses micro-founded mathematical modeling to understand the relationship between skills and mobility. Nevertheless, it cannot explain social segregation and generally does not focus on the importance of local labor demand. Social stratification research can explain the social and institutional barriers to occupational mobility. Migration research studies the relationship between migration, labor demand, and social mobility. This review identifies opportunities for mutual learning and research gaps in the research landscape