Occupational Licensing, Intergenerational Occupational Persistence and Social Mobility

We study the relationship between occupational regulation and intergenerational occupational persistence. Using the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2009–2024), we find that individuals are significantly more likely to enter a licensed occupation if a parent also worked in one, with the effect strongest in occupations where regulatory hurdles and economic rents are higher. No comparable effect is observed for certification and accreditation, and the results cannot be attributed either to the growth in licensed occupations or to increases in employment within licensed occupations. Our findings suggest that licensing can hinder intergenerational social mobility by perpetuating existing patterns of occupational inheritance.