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To Be or Not to Be a Scientist?☆

In: Skill Mismatch in Labor Markets

Author

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  • Arnaud Chevalier

Abstract

Employers regularly complain of a shortage of qualified scientists and advocate that to remain competitive more scientists need to be trained. However, using a survey of graduates from British universities, I report that 3 years after graduation less than 50% of graduates from science subjects are working in a scientific occupation. Accounting for selection into major and occupation type, I estimate the wages of graduates and report that the wage premium of science graduates only occurs when these graduates are matched to a scientific occupation – and not because science skills are in demand in all occupations. I also provide additional evidence to assess whether science graduates are pushed or pulled into non-scientific occupations. Altogether, the evidence does not support the claim that science graduates are pulled by better conditions, financial or otherwise, into non-scientific jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnaud Chevalier, 2017. "To Be or Not to Be a Scientist?☆," Research in Labor Economics, in: Skill Mismatch in Labor Markets, volume 45, pages 1-39, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:rleczz:s0147-912120170000045001
    DOI: 10.1108/S0147-912120170000045001
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Science; graduate; labor market; I21; J24; J44;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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