The Effects of Occupational Knowledge: Job Information Centers, Educational Choices, and Labor Market Outcomes

52 Pages Posted: 19 Apr 2014

See all articles by Nils Saniter

Nils Saniter

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)

Thomas Siedler

University of Hamburg - Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Sciences; DIW Berlin; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA); University of Essex

Abstract

This study examines the causal link between individuals' occupational knowledge, educational choices, and labor market outcomes. We proxy occupational knowledge with mandatory visits to job information centers (JICs) in Germany while still attending school. Exogenous variation in the location and timing of JIC openings allow estimating causal effects in a difference-in-difference setup. Combining linked survey-administrative data with data on JICs permits to detect whether individuals benefited from the comprehensive information service when they were young.The results suggest that individuals, who went to school in administrative districts with a JIC, have higher educational attainments and a smoother transfer to the labor market than students who did not have access to these facilities. However, we find no effects on individuals' earnings in their first job or later in life. Overall, our results confirm the importance of policies that promote occupational knowledge among young adults.

Keywords: education, uncertainty, job matching, information, job information centers

JEL Classification: I2, J24, J31

Suggested Citation

Saniter, Nils and Siedler, Thomas, The Effects of Occupational Knowledge: Job Information Centers, Educational Choices, and Labor Market Outcomes. IZA Discussion Paper No. 8100, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2426854 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2426854

Nils Saniter (Contact Author)

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

Thomas Siedler

University of Hamburg - Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Sciences ( email )

Von-Melle-Park 9
Hamburg, 20146
Germany

DIW Berlin ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

University of Essex ( email )

Wivenhoe Park
Colchester, CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
133
Abstract Views
873
Rank
388,166
PlumX Metrics