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How the Minimum Wage Affects Training among Apprentices

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  • Papps, Kerry L.

    (University of Bradford)

Abstract

Previous studies have found mixed evidence regarding the effects of the minimum wage on training levels. This paper exploits a discontinuity in the minimum wage received by apprentices in the United Kingdom to examine this question. Workers aged 19-20 receive a substantial increase in the minimum wage after one year on an apprenticeship, whereas workers aged under 19 do not experience a change in the minimum wage at this point. Using data from the Apprenticeship Pay Survey, regression discontinuity design estimates suggest that the increase in the minimum wage has no overall effect on training among 19-20 year-olds. However, among firms that are compliant with the minimum wage legislation, the minimum wage reduces training by 11-23%. Since relatively few employers pay exactly the minimum wage, this implies a large elasticity of training with respect to the wage. Additional data from the Apprenticeship Evaluation Survey reveals that the overall effect of a 1% wage increase, including its effect on training, is a 0.1% reduction in a person's self-reported career prospects and a near-zero effect on his/her satisfaction with the apprenticeship.

Suggested Citation

  • Papps, Kerry L., 2020. "How the Minimum Wage Affects Training among Apprentices," IZA Discussion Papers 13499, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13499
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wayne Simpson, 1984. "An Econometric Analysis of Industrial Training in Canada," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 19(4), pages 435-451.
    2. Aepli, Manuel & Kuhn, Andreas, 2019. "Open Labor Markets and Firms’ Substitution between Training Apprentices and Hiring Workers," IZA Discussion Papers 12479, IZA Network @ LISER.
    3. Lee, David S. & Card, David, 2008. "Regression discontinuity inference with specification error," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 655-674, February.
    4. Neumark, David & Wascher, William, 2001. "Minimum Wages and Training Revisited," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 19(3), pages 563-595, July.
    5. Adam J. Grossberg & Paul Sicilian, 1999. "Minimum Wages, On-the-Job Training, and Wage Growth," Southern Economic Journal, Southern Economic Association, vol. 65(3), pages 539-556, January.
    6. David Fairris & Roberto Pedace, 2004. "The Impact of Minimum Wages on Job Training: An Empirical Exploration with Establishment Data," Southern Economic Journal, Southern Economic Association, vol. 70(3), pages 566-583, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hristos Doucouliagos & Katarina Zigova, 2024. "Minimum Wages and Human Capital Investment: A Meta-Regression Analysis," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0219, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    2. Tobler, Lina & Fervers, Lukas & Reiff, Annika, 2025. "Does more money help? The impact of the apprenticeship minimum wage on training offers and take-ups," SocArXiv hjb74_v1, Center for Open Science.
    3. Carolin Linckh & Caroline Neuber-Pohl & Harald Pfeifer, 2023. "The employment effects of raising negotiated minimum wages for apprentices," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0202, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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