GENERATING LABOR-MARKET INEQUALITY - EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THEACCUMULATION OF DISADVANTAGE

We analyze the Urban Poverty and Family Life Survey of Chicago to illu strate race and ethnic differentials in the accumulation of labor mark er experience over the life course of inner city men and women. We fin d that relative to parents nationally, inner city mothers and fathers experience greater employment instability and accumulate large work ex perience deficits through their adult life course. Multivariate analys es based on complete labor force histories reveal that cumulative work experience and education significantly influences labor market succes s based on the odds of being in the labor force in any given year and the duration of job spells. Despite higher employment returns ro work experience among minority compared to non-minority men, the poor avera ge labor market standing of inner city minority parents partly reflect s the experience deficits accumulated over their life course, particul arly for slack and Puerto Rican men, and Hispanic women.