The composition of rural employment growth in the 'new economy'

Abstract

This article examines changes in the patterns of occupational employment in urban and rural labor markets in seven southern states between 1970 and 1990. A method is developed for assessing whether occupational employment patterns are becoming more differentiated over time. The analysis identifies a process of increasing similarity across all occupational groups between 1970 and 1980. In contrast, the 1980-90 period is characterized by increasing rural specialization in Operator (low-skill) occupations amid increasing similarity in four of nine inclusive occupational categories. These results provide partial support for conjectures regarding greater differentiation of tasks performed in rural and urban labor markets.