arbiter
JournalsAccount

Occupational Licensing, Intergenerational Occupational Persistence and Social Mobility

Maria Koumenta & Mark Williams

Industrial Relations: a journal of economy and society2026https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.70023article
AJG 4ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

Abstract

We study the relationship between occupational regulation and intergenerational occupational persistence. Using the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2009–2024), we find that individuals are significantly more likely to enter a licensed occupation if a parent also worked in one, with the effect strongest in occupations where regulatory hurdles and economic rents are higher. No comparable effect is observed for certification and accreditation, and the results cannot be attributed either to the growth in licensed occupations or to increases in employment within licensed occupations. Our findings suggest that licensing can hinder intergenerational social mobility by perpetuating existing patterns of occupational inheritance.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.70023

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{maria2026,
  title        = {{Occupational Licensing, Intergenerational Occupational Persistence and Social Mobility}},
  author       = {Maria Koumenta & Mark Williams},
  journal      = {Industrial Relations: a journal of economy and society},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.70023},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Occupational Licensing, Intergenerational Occupational Persistence and Social Mobility

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.