Occupational Achievement in Australia and the United States: A Comparative Path Analysis

In this paper, Blau and Duncan's model of the process of occupational achievement in the United States is applied to comparable Australian data. A path analysis indicates that the major difference between the two countries, at least in terms of the model considered, is a looser articulation between the educational and occupational systems in Australia. Separate analysis of different age cohorts indicates a convergence between the two countries, reflecting the rapid industrialization and expansion of tertiary education in Australia since the end of the Second World War.