Earnings Mobility Between 2000 and 2005

Earnings Mobility Between Earnings mobility measures the probability that a worker will change position in the 2000 and 2005 earnings distribution from one year to the next. The measure shown here splits the earnings distribution for two years into 5 equal parts (or quintiles) and then shows the proportion of workers who switch groups. Men Women Quintile in 2000 Quintile in 2005 Quintile in 2000 Quintile in 2005 50% Lowest 46% Lowest 28% Second 30% Second 12% Middle 14% Middle 7% Fourth 7% Fourth 3% Highest 4% Highest 18% Lowest 20% Lowest 41% Second 40% Second 28% Middle 26% Middle 9% Fourth 10% Fourth 3% Highest 4% Highest 8% Lowest 9% Lowest 15% Second 16% Second 42% Middle 42% Middle 29% Fourth 26% Fourth 6% Highest 6% Highest 5% Lowest 5% Lowest 5% Second 6% Second 13% Middle 14% Middle 51% Fourth 49% Fourth 26% Highest 25% Highest 3% Lowest 3% Lowest 2% Second 3% Second 3% Middle 4% Middle 12% Fourth 13% Fourth 80% Highest 77% Highest Author: Jonathan Schwabish ([email protected]) Source: Congressional Budget Office, October 2009, "Changes in the Distribution of Worrkers' Annual Earnings Between 1979 and 2007", Tables 4 and 5. Available at: http://cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=10527. Fourth Middle Second Lowest Highest Highest Fourth Middle Second Lowest