Upward mobility is movement to a higher social class. It can happen within a lifetime or across generations. A child born into poverty who becomes a doctor is upwardly mobile. A working-class family that moves into the middle class is upwardly mobile. It is the opposite of downward mobility.

Upward mobility is valued in many societies. It is the American Dream. But it is not equally available to everyone. Race, gender, and family background shape chances. Education is a key pathway. A college degree improves mobility prospects, but it is not a guarantee.

Pathways to upward mobility

• Education: degrees and credentials
• Career advancement: promotions and job changes
• Marriage: marrying into a higher class
• Migration: moving to areas with better opportunities
• Luck: being in the right place at the right time

Upward mobility has slowed in many countries. In the U.S., children born in the bottom fifth of income are less likely to reach the top fifth than in Canada or Denmark. Mobility is not just about individual effort. It is about structures that either open or close doors.