Long-term effects of involuntary job separations on labour careers

Abstract

In this article, we analyse whether involuntary job separations present long-term effects upon individuals’ careers, and the magnitude of such effects. For this purpose, the impact of involuntary job separations on three measures of occupational prestige is examined, using the British Household Panel Survey. Involuntary job separations are found to show a negative effect upon those occupational prestige scales. In particular, when additional involuntary job separations are suffered, this negative impact is persistent and cumulative. Moreover, this observed decrease in prestige levels is enhanced by the length of job separations. Our results help to explain why displaced workers suffer persistent earnings losses compared to non-displaced workers along their work-life history.