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Abstract
We examine the relationship between migration and occupational segregation for
black and white job changers. Using a modified experience good model, our findings from
the NLSY suggest that black migrants in good quality occupation matches advance their occupational
positions, but do not catch up to whites. Bad match black migrants, on the other
hand, lose the most ground on occupational ladders relative to all blacks and whites in our
sample. Our results suggest that future research should focus on the underlying labor market
history of individuals, where finding good initial occupation matches for blacks in combination
with geographical mobility may be the most effective strategy for public policy
aimed at decreasing occupational segregation.