Working Paper: NBER ID: w24738
Authors: Greg Kaplan; Sam Schulhofer-Wohl
Abstract: We study how changes in the distribution of occupations have affected the aggregate non-pecuniary costs and benefits of working. The physical toll of work is smaller now than in 1950, with workers shifting away from occupations in which people report experiencing tiredness and pain. The emotional consequences of the changing occupation distribution vary substantially across demographic groups. Work has become happier and more meaningful for women, but more stressful and less meaningful for men. These changes appear to be concentrated at lower education levels.
Keywords: non-pecuniary costs; occupational distribution; worker well-being; labor market dynamics
JEL Codes: I31; J22; J24; J28; N32
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Occupational shifts (J62) | decreased pain and tiredness (I19) |
| Occupational shifts (J62) | improved aggregate feelings of workers (J29) |
| Decreased physical toll of work (J29) | decreased pain and tiredness (I19) |
| Improvements in feelings for women (J16) | movement into higher happiness and meaningfulness occupations (J62) |
| Occupational shifts (J62) | increased stress and decreased meaningfulness for men (I31) |
| Share of jobs with high disutility (J79) | decreased overall (F69) |