Commentary | Trade and Globalization

The Characteristics of Offshorable Jobs

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In recent years there has been increased attention to the fact that more jobs, particularly white-collar jobs, have become vulnerable to being offshored. This new analysis examines the characteristics of these jobs. Examining the occupations identified by Princeton economics professor Alan Blinder as “potentially offshorable,” this EPI analysis finds that between 18% and 22% of today’s jobs — about 25 to 30 million — could potentially be offshored. Interestingly, the workers most vulnerable to offshoring are those with at least a four-year college degree.

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