Parental SES, social ties, and employment outcomes: A systematic review

In this systematic review, I addressed the main research question: How is parental socioeconomic status related to access to and utilisation of social ties in employment, according to existing empirical research? I analysed the results of 18 empirical studies (12 quantitative and 6 qualitative), which were retrieved from eight social science and business databases following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. I modified Lin's model on the theory of social capital and used it as an analytical framework. The major factor that distinguished findings of the reviewed literature was the studied type of employment outcome: Obtaining a job or job characteristics. I found that participants in all parental SES groups were able to access and utilise social ties to obtain a job. Similarity of parental SES and the labour market position of the participants was found to be essential. However, securing a job with better characteristics (e.g., higher occupational status or wages) was related to higher parental SES. The findings indicate that utilising social ties in employment potentially reproduces intergenerational inequalities. Moreover, my findings underline the importance of context instead of the strength of social ties. The article contributes to developing theoretical insights and directions for further research on inequalities in social ties and their employment outcomes.