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Do Apprenticeships Pay? Evidence for England

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  • Chiara Cavaglia
  • Sandra McNally
  • Guglielmo Ventura

Abstract

The importance of apprenticeships for early labour market transitions varies across countries and over time. In recent times, there has been a policy drive to increase the number of people undertaking apprenticeships in England. This is regarded as important for addressing poor productivity. We investigate whether there is a positive return to undertaking an apprenticeship for young people. We use detailed administrative data to track recent cohorts of young school leavers as they transition to the labour market. Our results suggest that apprenticeships lead to a positive average earnings return (at least in the short run), although there is stark variation between sectors. This is an important driver of the gender gap in earnings.

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  • Chiara Cavaglia & Sandra McNally & Guglielmo Ventura, 2020. "Do Apprenticeships Pay? Evidence for England," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 82(5), pages 1094-1134, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:obuest:v:82:y:2020:i:5:p:1094-1134
    DOI: 10.1111/obes.12363
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sönke Hendrik Matthewes & Guglielmo Ventura, 2022. "On Track to Success? Returns to vocational education against different alternatives," CVER Research Papers 038, Centre for Vocational Education Research.
    2. Muehlemann, Samuel & Dietrich, Hans & Pfann, Gerard & Pfeifer, Harald, 2022. "Supply Shocks in the Market for Apprenticeship Training," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    3. Chiara Zisler & Damiano Pregaldini & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2023. "Opening doors for immigrants: The importance of occupational and workplace-based cultural skills for successful labor market entry," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0204, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    4. Steve Machin & Sandra McNally & Camille Terrier & Guglielmo Ventura, 2020. "Closing the Gap between Vocational and General Education? Evidence from University Technical Colleges in England," CESifo Working Paper Series 8678, CESifo.
    5. Salah Al-Ali, 2021. "How Successful is Field Training Program offered by the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, Kuwait, in Reducing Dependence on Expatriates?," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 23(1), pages 54-66, September.
    6. Salah Al-Ali, 2021. "How successful is the Industrial Institutes, Kuwait, in reducing dependence on expatriates?," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 23(1), pages 78-102, September.
    7. Salah Al-Ali, 2021. "How successful is the Higher Institute of Energy, Kuwait, in reducing dependence on expatriates?," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 22(1), pages 227-248, August.
    8. Sönke Hendrik Matthewes & Guglielmo Ventura, 2022. "On Track to Success? Returns to Vocational Education Against Different Alternatives," CEPA Discussion Papers 58, Center for Economic Policy Analysis.
    9. Salah Al-Ali, 2021. "How successful is the College of Heath Sciences, Kuwait, in reducing dependence on expatriates?," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 21(1), pages 393-413, July.
    10. Guglielmo Ventura, 2020. "What future for apprenticeships after coronavirus?," CVER Briefing Notes 012, Centre for Vocational Education Research.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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