Scaling Labor Markets

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Abstract
Theoretical analyses of labor market segmentation have traditionally emphasized discrete aspects of this structure (e.g., primary and secondary markets). In contrast, the literature on the segmentation of firms and industries has moved from discrete, unidimensional views of economic sectors (e.g., core or periphery) to continuous, multidimensional conceptualizations. Following this shift, we argue that labor market segments should also be seen as the result of multidimensional phenomena. To illustrate our contention, we use centroid scaling to analyze a 79 by 79 mobility matrix for intercollegiate athletic personnel. The results show the complexity of this labor market and suggest that, at the national level, market segments are continua in a multidimensional structure.