Final answer:
Structural mobility describes the ability of individuals or groups to move up or down the social or economic ladder based on changes in the structure of society. Since the decline of manufacturing in the late 1970s, there has been a shift in the job market in the United States, with a decrease in manufacturing jobs and growth in service-oriented industries. This has created new job opportunities and required workers to adapt and acquire new skills to maintain employment and progress economically.
Step-by-step explanation:
Structural Mobility and Job Changes in the United States
Structural mobility refers to the ability of individuals or groups to move up or down the social or economic ladder based on changes in the structure of society.
Since the decline of manufacturing in the late 1970s in the United States, there has been a significant shift in the job market. Many manufacturing jobs were lost, leading to a decrease in employment opportunities in that sector. On the other hand, there has been a growth in service-oriented industries such as technology, healthcare, and finance. This shift in the economy has created new job opportunities and resulted in structural mobility for workers.
For example, individuals who may have previously worked in manufacturing jobs have had to adapt and acquire new skills to find employment in the growing service sector. This required retraining and upskilling to meet the demands of the changing job market. Structural mobility in this context describes how workers have had to transition to new industries and occupations to maintain employment and progress economically.
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