Where Are the Returns to Lifelong Learning?

Michael Coelli and Domenico Tabasso

Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series from Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne

Abstract: We investigate the labour market determinants and outcomes of adult participation in formal education (lifelong learning) in Australia, a country with high levels of adult education. Employing longitudinal data and mixed effects methods allows identification of effects on outcomes free of ability bias. Different trends in outcomes across groups are also allowed for. The impacts of adult education differ by gender and level of study, with small or zero labour market returns in many cases. Wage rates only increase for males undertaking university studies. For men, vocational education and training (VET) leads to higher job satisfaction and fewer weekly hours. For women, VET is linked to higher levels of satisfaction with employment opportunities and higher employment probabilities. Classification-J24, J28, I23, I28

Keywords: Adult education; lifelong learning; vocational studies; returns to education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 41pp
Date: 2015-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-hrm and nep-lma
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Where are the returns to lifelong learning? (2019)
Working Paper: Where Are the Returns to Lifelong Learning? (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2015n24

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