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Labor-Market Returns to Higher Vocational Schooling

Author

Listed:
  • Böckerman, Petri

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Haapanen, Mika

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Jepsen, Christopher

    (University College Dublin)

Abstract

This paper examines the labor-market returns to a new form of postsecondary vocational education, vocational master's degrees. We use individual fixed effects models on the matched sample of students and non-students from Finland to capture any time-invariant differences across individuals. Attendance in vocational master's programs leads to higher earnings of eight percent five years after entry even if selection on unobservables is twice as strong as selection on observables. Earnings gains are similar by gender and age, but they are marginally higher for health than for business or technology and trades.

Suggested Citation

  • Böckerman, Petri & Haapanen, Mika & Jepsen, Christopher, 2018. "Labor-Market Returns to Higher Vocational Schooling," IZA Discussion Papers 11734, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11734
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    vocational education; master's degrees; labor-market returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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