The Left Brain of North American Cities

Abstract

Using pooled Census of Population data for 242 metropolitan areas, this paper evaluates the link between long-run employment growth and the supply of different types of skilled labor. It also examines factors related to the growth of a particular type of skilled labor—workers in science and engineering occupations. The first part of the article investigates the contribution of broad and specialized forms of human capital to long-run changes in urban employment from 1980 to 2000. It places particular emphasis on workers in science and engineering and culture occupations. The second part of the article focuses on factors that influence the growth of science and engineering employment across metropolitan areas. It examines whether the scientific capabilities of cities are influenced by amenities such as the size of the local cultural sector.