downward mobility

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   A fall in a person's or family's position on the social or income scale, for example into a lower class or job level.

   Grammar: Not used with an or a plural: there is a lot of downward mobility.

   Patterns

   • downward mobility among someone
   • downward mobility in something

   Rising housing costs have led to downward mobility among young professionals.

   The study found downward mobility was common after a long period of unemployment.

   Many parents fear downward mobility for their children.

2. 2noununcountable

   In general use, a move to a less senior or lower-paid job.

   Grammar: Often about careers: accept downward mobility to keep a job.

   Patterns

   • accept downward mobility
   • downward mobility at work

   After the factory closed, he accepted downward mobility and took a part-time job.

   The company's restructuring caused downward mobility for several managers.

   She saw the move to a smaller firm as downward mobility.

Common combinations

experience downward mobility

Many graduates experienced downward mobility during the recession.

fear of downward mobility

The fear of downward mobility drives some families to save every penny.

downward mobility among

Researchers noted downward mobility among older workers.

intergenerational downward mobility

Intergenerational downward mobility means children end up worse off than their parents.

downward social mobility

Downward social mobility has become more common in the region.

Synonyms and how they differ

social decline

Social decline is a looser phrase, while downward mobility is the technical term used in studies of class and income.

demotion

Demotion is a specific lowering of one person's rank at work, whereas downward mobility refers to a broader pattern.

downturn

A downturn describes economic conditions getting worse, not a person's change in status.

Opposites

Word family

upward mobility noun

a rise in social or economic position

mobile adjective

able to move or change position

mobility noun

the ability to move or to change social level

social mobility noun

movement between social classes

Commonly confused: downward mobility or upward mobility?

Practice

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