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The labour market returns to graduation: reconciling administrative and survey data estimates

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  • Adamecz, Anna
  • Dickson, Matt
  • Shure, Nikki

Abstract

This paper contributes to the literature on the earnings returns to university graduation. Recent evidence using administrative earnings data from England suggests a zero return to graduation for men and positive returns to graduation for women in annual earnings at age 26. We show that once hours worked are taken into account – typically not available in administrative tax data – returns to graduation in hourly wages are considerably smaller for women than returns in annual wages at this age. Graduate women work more hours than comparable non-graduate women; thus, not taking hours worked into account leads to overestimating returns to graduation for women by more than two-fold. This highlights the importance of using both survey and administrative data sources when estimating the returns to university graduation.

Suggested Citation

  • Adamecz, Anna & Dickson, Matt & Shure, Nikki, 2025. "The labour market returns to graduation: reconciling administrative and survey data estimates," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:108:y:2025:i:c:s0272775725000810
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2025.102701
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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