Using data from interviews and a 1991 survey of Massachusetts nursing homes
, the author examines employment practices across establishments for the en
try-level job of nursing assistant. Practices characteristic of good jobs c
ame in bundles: wages, benefits, employer-provided training, and opportunit
ies for advancement were correlated. High-quality jobs were more likely in
nursing homes serving differentiated customer markets and in nursing homes
with professionalized management. Unions and chain ownership were also asso
ciated with higher-quality jobs.