upward mobility
Rising through ranks
Upward mobility is movement to a higher social or economic position.
The term usually describes improvement across generations—children achieving more education, income, or status than their parents: The American Dream promises upward mobility through hard work.
Upwardly mobile describes someone actively rising in class or career standing.
Grouping by shared traits
- statusOne's relative position
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- incomeRegular monetary receipts
- middle classIntermediate socioeconomic group
working class · poverty · inequality · social stratification · generational wealth · bootstrap · American Dream · rags to riches
Rank increase or publicity
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- breakthroughSudden important advance
recognition · attainment · success · elevation · prosperity · raise · bonus · corner office
Desire for achievement
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
grit · tenacity · hustle · striving · self-improvement · goal-oriented · industrious · hardworking
Sequential job advancement structure
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- job marketEmployment availability collectively
recruitment · openings · prospects · connections · sponsorship · glass ceiling · barriers · access
Unit of measurement
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- universityHigher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
vocational training · certification · literacy · tuition · professional development · skills training · continuing education · graduate school
class
Grouping by shared traits
middle class · working class · poverty · inequality · social stratification · generational wealth · bootstrap · American Dream · rags to riches · nouveau riche
promotion
Rank increase or publicity
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
breakthrough · recognition · attainment · success · elevation · prosperity · raise · bonus · corner office · title
ambition
Desire for achievement
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
perseverance · grit · tenacity · hustle · striving · self-improvement · goal-oriented · industrious · hardworking · go-getter
career ladder
Sequential job advancement structure
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
job market · recruitment · openings · prospects · connections · sponsorship · glass ceiling · barriers · access · pathways
degree
Unit of measurement
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- universityHigher education institution
college · vocational training · certification · literacy · tuition · professional development · skills training · continuing education · graduate school · student loans
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- Career Advancementjob promotion, advancement, moving up, career ladder, pay raise
- social classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, social class
- social classesupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, nobles
- statusstatus, prestige, ranking, reputation, elite
- success storiesrags to riches, success story, underdog story, comeback story, zero to hero
upward mobilitydownward mobility
Drop in socioeconomic status
economic decline · downward drift · falling from grace · sinking
upward mobilitystagnation
Absence of flow or progress
economic stagnation · going nowhere · treading water · status quo · inertia
upward mobilitystagnation
Absence of flow or progress
glass ceiling · caste system · poverty trap · economic stagnation · structural inequality
mobile, upward, mobility, automobile, mobilize, immobile, upwards, immobility, mobilized