MANUFACTURING TRADE-RELATED EMPLOYMENT GROWTH - SELF-EMPLOYED AND WAGE AND SALARY EARNERS IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Using input-output data for the 1987-1990 period, this study compares the total (direct and indirect) effects of changes in export and impor t levels on the employment trends of self-employed and wage and salary workers. Aggregate estimates reveal that self-employed and wage and s alary workers suffered net trade-related employment losses in the 1987 -1990 period. However, between 1987 and 1990, the self-employed experi enced a more favorable shift in trade-related employment losses (-16.8 percent) than wage and salary workers (-10.8 percent). Total net manu facturing trade-related self-employment losses declined from -252.3 pe rson-years in 1987 to -209.8 person-years in 1990. Corresponding estim ates for wage and salary workers were -6,334.7 and -5,644.9 person-yea rs respectively. The self-employed also experienced a greater percenta ge increase (25 percent) in positive net trade-related employment betw een 1987 and 1990 compared to wage and salary workers (23 percent). Th ese findings suggest that given the economic structure during 1987-199 0, changes in import and export levels - consistent with U.S. trade pa tterns in the 1987-1990 period are associated with relatively more fav orable employment shifts among the self-employed than among wage and s alary employees.