American cities have changed in the last few decades from being places of production
and distribution of goods to centers of administration, finance, and information
(Kasarda, 1989). As a result, blue-collar jobs, which once constituted the primary occupational
category in the central city, have declined while education-intensive white-collar
jobs have increased. These blue-collar jobs had been a traditional avenue of employment
for urban blacks because they were relatively well-paid, stable, and did not require
high levels of education. While educational levels of blacks have risen over time, the
changes have not offset the impact of urban industrial change. Although the largest proportion
of urban blacks are employed in low-educationjobs, it is high-educationjobs that
have demonstrated the highest growth in the city. As a result of these changes, many
blacks are jobless while many others are marginally employed in service industries that
do not provide the income or stability of their blue-collar predecessors.