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The Long-term Earnings Consequences of General vs. Specific Training of the Unemployed

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  • Stenberg, Anders

    (SOFI, Stockholm University)

  • Westerlund, Olle

    (Umeå University)

Abstract

Training programs for the unemployed typically involve teaching specific skills in demand amongst employers. In 1997, Swedish unemployed could also choose general training at the upper secondary school level. Despite the dominance of programs offering specific training, long-term relative earnings effects of general vs. specific training are theoretically ambiguous. Analyzing detailed administrative data 1990-2010, we find specific training associated with higher earnings in the short run, but that earnings converge over time. Results also indicate that individuals act on their comparative advantages. Long-run earnings advantages of general training are found for females with limited prior education and among metropolitan residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Stenberg, Anders & Westerlund, Olle, 2014. "The Long-term Earnings Consequences of General vs. Specific Training of the Unemployed," IZA Discussion Papers 8668, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8668
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    2. Leduc, Elisabeth & Tojerow, Ilan, 2025. "Closing the Mismatch: Encouraging Jobseekers to Reskill for Shortage Occupations," IZA Discussion Papers 17731, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Kelly, Elish & McGuinness, Seamus & Redmond, Paul & Savage, Michael & Walsh, John R., 2019. "An initial evaluation of the effectiveness of Intreo activation reforms," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS81.
    4. Franziska Hampf & Ludger Woessmann, 2017. "Vocational vs. General Education and Employment over the Life Cycle: New Evidence from PIAAC," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 63(3), pages 255-269.
    5. Anders Stenberg & Olle Westerlund, 2015. "The long-term earnings consequences of general vs. specific training of the unemployed," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-26, December.
    6. Verhaest, Dieter & Baert, Stijn, 2015. "The Early Labour Market Effects of Generally and Vocationally Oriented Higher Education: Is There a Trade-off?," IZA Discussion Papers 9137, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Bart H. H. Golsteyn & Anders Stenberg, 2017. "Earnings over the Life Course: General versus Vocational Education," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 11(2), pages 167-212.
    8. Huzeyfe Torun & Semih Tumen, 2019. "Do vocational high school graduates have better employment outcomes than general high school graduates?," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 40(8), pages 1364-1388, August.
    9. Denzler, Stefan & Ruhose, Jens & Wolter, Stefan C., 2022. "'The Double Dividend of Training' – Labor Market Effects of Work-Related Continuous Education in Switzerland," IZA Discussion Papers 15619, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Ollikainen, Jani-Petteri, 2021. "Comprehensive school reform and labor market outcomes over the lifecycle: Evidence from Finland," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    11. Amanda Chuan & Christian Lyhne Ibsen, 2022. "Skills for the Future? A Life Cycle Perspective on Systems of Vocational Education and Training," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(3), pages 638-664, May.
    12. Makó, Ágnes, 2019. "A közismereti tudás és az elkötelezettség hatása a szakiskolát végzettek munkaerőpiaci esélyeire [General knowledge and commitment as factors in the labour-market chances of those completing vocati," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(4), pages 434-458.
    13. Forslund, Anders, 2019. "Employment outcomes and policies in Sweden during recent decades," Working Paper Series 2019:15, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    14. Elisabeth Leduc & Ilan Tojerow, 2025. "Closing the Mismatch: Encouraging Jobseekers to Reskill for Shortage Occupations," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 25-014/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    15. Jan O. Jonsson & Carina Mood & Erik Bihagen, 2016. "Poverty trends during two recessions and two recoveries: lessons from Sweden 1991–2013," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-20, December.
    16. Tanaka Masashi, 2020. "Changing demand for general skills, technological uncertainty, and economic growth," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 20(1), pages 1-25, January.
    17. Eric A. Hanushek & Guido Schwerdt & Ludger Woessmann & Lei Zhang, 2017. "General Education, Vocational Education, and Labor-Market Outcomes over the Lifecycle," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 52(1), pages 48-87.
    18. Heller-Sahlgren, Gabriel, 2023. "Lifelong learning and employment outcomes: evidence from Sweden," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115171, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    19. Denzler, Stefan & Ruhose, Jens & Wolter, Stefan C., 2025. "Labour market effects of work-related continuous education in Switzerland – evidence from administrative data," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    20. Birca Alic, 2024. "Increasing Sustainable Employment By Involving Organisations In The Vocational Training Of The Unemployed," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 4, pages 34-44, August.

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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