SRDC Series #211-D

The Changing Nature of Work in the South:
The Polarization of Tomorrow's Workforce-Abstract
July 1999

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Labor markets have undergone many changes in the South; shifts have occurred which have had a profound impact on the region. Simply put, a switch from industrial production to service employment is occurring; white collar workers are slowly, but surely, replacing blue collar workers. Such shifts have raised the qualifications needed to hold certain service-sector jobs. Consequently, an increasing proportion of the workforce now finds itself in need of better education and higher level skills. But, at the same time, job growth is also occurring at the other extreme, in occupations requiring little or no formal training. This report examines the changes occurring in the Southern workforce. Serving as the primary data sources for illustrating the nature of labor market adjustments in the region are the industry and occupational projections from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, America's Labor Market Information System, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our analysis shows that a polarization is emerging within tomorrow's workforce. The largest numbers of jobs are taking place among those occupations requiring no postsecondary degree. On the other hand, a significant portion of the fastest growing occupations are demanding post-secondary training or degrees. These trends have important implications on the anticipated earnings and employment experiences of Southerners.