Measuring Transitions into the Workforce as a Form of Accountability
19 Pages Posted: 9 May 2011
Date Written: May 4, 2011
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between student major and industry of employment and its application to higher education accountability. Data provided by statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDS) has enabled state educational agencies and colleges to follow students into the workforce. While most studies have focused on wage outcomes, this shows how to use SLDS data to understand the correlation between major and industry. The transition into the workforce is an important outcome since it is an assessment of a college’s ability to develop specific, targeted sectors of the economy. We use SLDS data from Iowa to follow community college alumni from 2002 through 2008.
Keywords: workforce outcomes, non-pecuniary, industry, statewide longitudinal data system, community college, Iowa, NAICS
JEL Classification: I21
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