Economic mobility — the ability of individuals and families to improve their economic standing over time and build financial security — depends heavily on local labor market conditions. The Kinder Institute uses the 2014 global oil crash, which led to significant disruptions in employment and income, as a lens to examine the Houston region’s vulnerabilities and resilience. Research tracks the crash’s impact on hiring rates, earnings growth, job-to-job mobility and regional migration, shows how outcomes varied by demographics and neighborhoods, and offers a strategic framework to design, implement and learn from high-impact local initiatives.
The oil crash disrupted key drivers of economic mobility, including hiring rates, earnings growth, job-to-job mobility and regional migration. More than a decade later, the region has yet to fully recover.
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