When looking for work, it's tempting to look for a job with the same title as the job you already have, but that may limit your opportunities. Each job entails doing certain tasks; those tasks entail having certain skills; and those skills often transcend job title or even industry.
The Occupational Mobility Explorer is an online, data-driven, interactive tool any job seeker can use to visualize paths into higher-paying occupations. Underlying this tool is the insight that “an occupation can be thought of as a bundle of tasks, for which workers need a particular skill set to complete.”1 So, instead of feeling trapped in one narrowly defined occupation, a worker can visualize a path forward by identifying the skills required for higher-paying jobs. Then, using the Occupational Mobility Explorer, they can either view higher-paying jobs that request skills they already have or build a ladder of jobs through which they can acquire skills they may need for their dream job. For example, if you’re a parking attendant in Philadelphia earning less than $15 per hour, you can use the Occupational Mobility Explorer to build a career path to a new occupation as a bus driver earning twice that salary. As this tool shows, a parking attendant in Philadelphia shares key skills with delivery drivers (that is, Driver/Sales Workers), an intermediate role that could help a parking attendant acquire skills to then become a bus driver.
Of course, a parking attendant in a different city may face a different set of choices. That's why the Occupational Mobility Explorer lets you choose from hundreds of job titles across more than 500 regions in the United States when looking for a new career.
The Explorer is particularly valuable in today’s rapidly evolving economy, where automation and shifting employer needs can disrupt traditional career paths. By focusing on transferable skills rather than formal credentials, the tool opens doors for workers who might otherwise be overlooked. It empowers job seekers to make informed decisions about training and career moves, while also helping educators and workforce organizations tailor programs to meet real-world demand.
Learn More: Occupational Mobility Explorer
Email: theresa.dunne@phil.frb.org
This article appeared in the Second Quarter 2025 issue of Economic Insights. Download and read the full issue.