Persistent Effects of Job Displacement: The Importance of Multiple Job Losses

This article examines the long-term wage and earnings losses of displaced workers, using longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Consistent with previous research, I find that the effects of displacement are quite persistent, with earnings and wages remaining approximately 9% below their expected levels 6 or more years after displacement. I then show that much of this persistence can be explained by additional job losses in the years following an initial displacement. Workers who avoid additional displacements have earnings and wage losses of 1% and 4% 6 or more years after job loss.