Human Capital Assets and Structures of Work in the US Metropolitan Hierarchy (An Analysis Based on the O*NET Information System)

The O*NET database provides a wealth of information on the qualitative aspects of different occupations. On the basis of these data, we carry out an investigation of the forms of human capital and work that can be found at different levels in the urban hierarchy of the United States. The study proceeds, first, by means of factor analysis of the original O*NET data, second, by constructing a derivative set of indexes of human capital and work activities for metropolitan areas, and third, by subjecting these indexes to multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that human capital and work activities in US metropolitan areas vary systematically across the urban hierarchy, as revealed by the relative concentration of occupations that rely heavily on cognitive and behavioral resources at the top end of the hierarchy and a relative concentration of occupations that rely on physical work at the bottom. However, there are some important exceptions to this general pattern.