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College Majors and Skills: Evidence from the Universe of Online Job Ads

Author

Listed:
  • Steven W. Hemelt

    (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Brad J. Hershbein

    (W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research)

  • Shawn M. Martin

    (University of Michigan)

  • Kevin M. Stange

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

We use the near universe of U.S. online job ads to document four new facts about the skills employers demand from college majors. First, some skills––social and organizational––are demanded from all majors whereas others––financial and customer service––are demanded from only particular majors. Second, some majors have skill demand profiles that mirror overall demand for college graduates, such as Business and General Engineering, while other majors, such as Nursing and Education, have relatively rare skill profiles. Third, cross-major differences in skill profiles explain considerable wage variation. Fourth, although major-specific skill demand varies across place, this variation plays little role in explaining wage variation. College majors can thus be reasonably conceptualized as portable bundles of skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven W. Hemelt & Brad J. Hershbein & Shawn M. Martin & Kevin M. Stange, 2024. "College Majors and Skills: Evidence from the Universe of Online Job Ads," Upjohn Working Papers 23-384, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:23-384
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Modestino, Alicia Sasser & Shoag, Daniel & Ballance, Joshua, 2016. "Downskilling: changes in employer skill requirements over the business cycle," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 333-347.
    2. Long, Mark C. & Goldhaber, Dan & Huntington-Klein, Nick, 2015. "Do completed college majors respond to changes in wages?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-14.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    college major; skill demand; job ads;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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