This article focuses primarily on how changes in occupational structure affect the distribution of earnings of individuals. It also considers the contribution of changes to the distribution of earnings of individuals caused by changes in the distribution of earnings by occupation over the 1973-82 period. (Author/CT)

Demonstrates that the number of low income or "underclass" Black families has increased over the past decade, while the proportion of low income Black families in the general population has remained relatively unchanged. However, there does not seem to be a widening economic cleavage within the Black community itself. (Author/GC)