Apprenticeship Training and the Business Cycle

18 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2009

See all articles by Samuel Muehlemann

Samuel Muehlemann

University of Bern

Stefan C. Wolter

Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education (SKBF); University of Bern - Department of Economics

Adrian Wüest

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Abstract

Dual apprenticeship training is a market-driven form of education at the upper secondary level, taking place in firms as well as in vocational schools. So far, little is known about the impact of the business cycle on the number of apprenticeship programs offered by firms. Using panel-data of Swiss cantons from 1988-2004, we find that the influence of the business cycle is statistically significant, but small in size. Instead, supply of apprenticeship programs is driven to a much greater extent by demographic change. Conversely, the number of first-year high school students is not affected by the business cycle. We find, however, that enrollment increases if the population at age 16 grows, but access to high schools does not become more restricted in times of negative growth.

Keywords: apprenticeship training, high school enrollment, business cycle

JEL Classification: E24, I21, J18, J44

Suggested Citation

Mühlemann, Samuel and Wolter, Stefan C. and Wüest, Adrian, Apprenticeship Training and the Business Cycle. IZA Discussion Paper No. 4460, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1486963 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1486963

Samuel Mühlemann (Contact Author)

University of Bern ( email )

Gesellschaftstrasse 49
Bern, CH-3012
Switzerland

Stefan C. Wolter

Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education (SKBF) ( email )

CH - 5000 Aarau
Switzerland
+41 62 835 23 90 (Phone)
+41 62 835 23 99 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.skbf-csre.ch

University of Bern - Department of Economics ( email )

Gesellschaftstrasse 49
Bern, CH-3012
Switzerland
+41 31 631 40 95 (Phone)
+41 31 631 39 92 (Fax)

Adrian Wüest

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available