The Structure of Occupational Mobility: Conceptualization and Analysis

A conceptual framework for the analysis and interpretation of the structure of occupational mobility is introduced and compared with traditional approaches to mobility analysis. The presentation contrasts the view of occupational mobility as a multidimensional process with the “status attainment”/functional theory assumption that mobility is unidimensional (i.e., that prestige is the only factor affecting movement between occupations). The analysis of the multidimensional structure of occupational mobility, using smallest space and multiple regression procedures is illustrated on an urban Indian data set.