Occupational Change in Britain and Germany

Abstract

We use British and German panel data to analyse job changes involving a change in
occupation. We assess the extent of occupational change, taking into account the
possibility of measurement error in occupational codes; whether job changes within
the occupation differ from occupation changes in terms of the characteristics of those
making such switches; and the effects of the two kinds of moves in terms of wages
and job satisfaction. We find that occupation changes differ from other job changes,
generally reflecting a less satisfactory employment situation, but also that the move in
both cases is positive in respect of change in wages and job satisfaction.