The spatial distribution of occupational prestige in metropolitan Tel Aviv

Summary Occupational prestige is the social value attributed to occupation, and in most instances indicates socio-economic status. It is obtained at the workplace and manifested in one's lifestyle in a specific place of residence, and its spatial distribution therefore follows the repetitive flow of commuters. The geography of such prestige has not previously been studied; this study uses the 1983 census to examine the spatial distribution of occupational prestige in metropolitan Tel Aviv, Israel. It was found that most workers use short, local commuting routes, which point to relatively closed secondary spatial labour markets. Common generalizations in research regarding commuting length and occupational status reflect the social composition of the entire workforce, with workers of higher occupational status tending towards longer commutes. Yet, this study shows that such commuting is also undertaken by workers of lower occupational status, while short commuting is also undertaken by workers of higher status. In addition, the results show that such generalizations are spatially differentiated.