Neoliberalism and Shifts in Occupational Structure: Quito, Ecuador, 1982-90

This paper examines shifting occupational composition in Quito, Ecuador, between 1982 and 1990, the first decade of neo–liberal–inspired economic reforms, and assesses to what degree these changes reflect general theories on the impacts of neo–liberalism. The research methodology uses census data for 1982 and 1990 to create a modified version of the workforce fragmentation typology. The analysis assesses shifts in the city’s occupational composition by examining change in industry and occupation categories, while also using gender and education to determine the importance of individual attributes in accessing employment. The result is a more rounded understanding of shifts in occupational composition during the inaugural period of neo–liberalism in a large Latin American city. The findings illustrate there is rapid growth in the overall number of people working in Quito, and that the greatest expansion is in the low–skill, low–wage positions. The findings also reveal that while having a college degree or higher qualification does increase one’s chances of gainful employment, there is no discernable difference between those with a secondary education and those with less than a secondary education.