In December 2006, the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) published an analysis of its surveys on education and professional qualification, focusing on occupational mobility among workers aged between 30 and 54 years. The analysis found that the occupational mobility of workers is most pronounced among those aged between 30 and 34 years, which partially reflects a compensation for the relegation of young workers in the first year of their careers. The upward mobility observed mainly concerns men and low-skilled workers, while downward mobility, which was almost non-existent in the 1980s, has become a more significant phenomenon among higher skilled workers and women since the end of the 1990s.
In December 2006, the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques, INSEE) published an analysis of its surveys on education and professional qualification (Enquête sur la formation et qualification professionnelle, FQP), focusing on occupational mobility among workers aged between 30 and 54 years. The FQP surveys were conducted over three five-year intervals: 1980–1985, 1988–1993 and 1998–2003. In this context, occupational mobility is defined as a change in occupation that results in a change in socio-professional group, within a five-year interval among those in employment during the particular period in question.
Increased occupational mobility
During the period 1998 to 2003, 21% of male workers and 17% of female workers changed their socio-professional group, compared with 14% and 11% of working men and women respectively between 1980 and 1985. The low rate of mobility in the early 1980s can be partially explained by the sharp increase in unemployment during that period. More favourable economic conditions emerged in the period 1988–1993, resulting in greater occupational mobility among both men and women. In the latter period in question, 1998–2003, only men showed increasing levels of occupational mobility.
For men, occupational mobility appears to have increased at all ages, but is noticeably higher between the ages of 30 and 34 years: among this sub-group, one out of every three workers experienced occupational mobility between 1998 and 2003, compared with one out of five workers during the period 1980–1985. This development can largely be explained by the fact that, in the latter period, young workers more frequently started their professional careers in occupations below that of their actual level of qualification. Women also experienced a high level of mobility at the beginning of their careers, albeit at a lower rate than that of men at all ages; however, in the period 1998–2003, women’s rate of mobility after the age of 35 years reduced sharply.
Upward mobility affects mainly men and low-skilled workers
Upward mobility among male workers is most prevalent among low-skilled white-collar workers and blue-collar workers, for whom the rate increased from 23% in the 1980s to 40% and 37% respectively between 1998 and 2003. For women, upward mobility is most prevalent among both skilled and unskilled blue-collar workers, while showing a slight decrease since the end of the 1980s, from 29% to 25%.
Globally, the rate of upward mobility has been higher in the 2000s than it was in the early 1980s, regardless of professional category. At the same time, throughout all the periods in question and among all of the socio-professional groups, the rate of upward mobility is lower for women than it is for men. Beyond this, upward mobility can be characterised by specific gender paths, with women mainly progressing in administrative careers and men in technical professions.
New trend of downward mobility
As illustrated in the table below, downward mobility – a phenomenon which was extremely rare in the period 1980–1985 – has noticeably increased for all socio-professional groups. More specifically, downward mobility is particularly prevalent among managers and women, despite the general increase in qualification levels among the working population. For example, among managers the level of downward mobility has increased from 2% to 8% for men and to 9% for women over the three five-year intervals surveyed.
Level of downward mobility, by sex and socio-professional group (%)
| Socio-professional group | 5-year interval | Men | Women |
| Managers | 1980–1985 | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| | 1998–2003 | 8.2 | 9.3 |
| | 1998–2003* | 9.7 | 11.5 |
| Intermediate professions | 1980–1985 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| | 1998–2003 | 8.6 | 7.8 |
| | 1998–2003* | 10.4 | 8.5 |
| White-collar workers | 1980–1985 | 2.0 | 2.6 |
| | 1998–2003 | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| | 1998–2003* | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| Blue-collar workers | 1980–1985 | 3.5 | 8.3 |
| | 1998–2003 | 4.7 | 11.8 |
| | 1998–2003* | 5.1 | 13.4 |
| Total | 1980–1985 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| | 1998–2003 | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| | 1998–2003* | 7.4 | 7.1 |
* Rate calculated on the basis of the 1998 structure of socio-professional groups; this structure has changed in the interval in question.
Source : FQP surveys 1985, 1993, 2003, INSEE
Downward mobility does not always involve a job change, but frequently includes a period of disruption in the individual’s professional career. For instance, among managers who have experienced a period of unemployment or inactivity between 1998 and 2003, the rate of downward mobility has increased to 26% for men and to 28% for women.
Reference
Monso, O., INSEE, ‘Changer de groupe social en cours de carrière – Davantage de mobilité depuis les années quatre-vingt’ [Changing socio-professional group during the career – Increased occupational mobility since the 1980s], INSEE Premières, No. 1112, December 2006.
Anne-Marie Nicot, ANACT