Generating labor market inequality: Employment opportunities and the accumulation of disadvantage

Abstract

We analyze the Urban Poverty and Family Life Survey of Chicago to illustrate race and ethnic differentials in the accumulation of labor market experience over the life course of inner city men and women. We find that relative to parents nationally, inner city mothers and fathers experience greater employment instability and accumulate large work experience deficits through their adult life course. Multivariate analyses based on complete labor force histories reveal that cumulative work experience and education significantly influences labor market success based on the odds of being in the labor force in any given year and the duration of job spells. Despite higher employment returns to work experience among minority compared to non-minority men, the poor average labor market standing of inner city minority parents partly reflects the experience deficits accumulated over their life course, particularly for Black and Puerto Rican men, and Hispanic women.