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University dropouts and labor market success

Author

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  • Sylke V. Schnepf

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Italy, University of Southampton, UK, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

With university education continuing to expand worldwide, university dropouts will make up a large group in future labor markets. Dropping out is routinely viewed as a negative indicator. However, data on university dropouts does not generally provide information on their labor market outcomes, so empirical evidence is sparse. The studies that have examined the issue show that dropping out can be more of an advantage than not having enrolled in university at all. Many dropouts are more likely than upper secondary school graduates with no university education to progress in their careers. And many graduate later in their life.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylke V. Schnepf, 2015. "University dropouts and labor market success," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 182-182, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Alfonso Flores-Lagunes & Audrey Light, "undated". "Interpreting Sheepskin Effects in the Returns to Education," Working Papers 22, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Education Research Section..
    5. Schnepf, Sylke V., 2014. "Do Tertiary Dropout Students Really Not Succeed in European Labour Markets?," IZA Discussion Papers 8015, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Manski, Charles F., 1989. "Schooling as experimentation: a reappraisal of the postsecondary dropout phenomenon," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 305-312, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Heigle, Julia & Pfeiffer, Friedhelm, 2020. "Langfristige Wirkungen eines nicht abgeschlossenen Studiums auf individuelle Arbeitsmarktergebnisse und die allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-004, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Heigle, Julia & Pfeiffer, Friedhelm, 2019. "An analysis of selected labor market outcomes of college dropouts in Germany: A machine learning estimation approach. Research report," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 222378.
    3. McNamara, Sarah, 2020. "Returns to higher education and dropouts: A double machine learning approach," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-084, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    higher education; dropout; labor market chances; international comparison;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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