Journal Article

Time for a Career Change? Inter-Industry Job Mobility in the Fifth District

Abstract: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average worker will have 12 jobs over the course of their lifetime. Whether workers transition to another job for career advancement, better skills alignment, or geographic location, job mobility is typically viewed as a key driver of labor productivity. There are two ways that workers can switch jobs: by moving to a new job within their current industry or by switching industries. Making a job transition to a different industry can be disruptive to an individual's career trajectory due to large gaps in skills and knowledge across sectors. However, this is not always the case. Some occupations are very mobile across industries. For example, workers in administrative occupations, such as executive assistants, are more likely to be able to transfer their skills across industries without much disruption to their careers because their job duties are often not industry specific.

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Part of Series: Econ Focus

Publication Date: 2025-10

Volume: 25

Issue: Q4