Measuring the Specificity of Human Capital: a Skill-based Approach

Kristjan-Olari Leping

No 134, Working Papers from Tallinn School of Economics and Business Administration, Tallinn University of Technology

Abstract: In this article a skill-based measure for human capital specificity will be constructed. This measure is based on the possibilities of making use of skills on labour market and it depends on the number of jobs where the particular skill is required. It is assumed that the specificity of human capital depends on the specificity of skills. In order to calculate the levels of specificity of different skills empirically, the data from the skill requirements of vacant jobs are used. The validity of this measure is tested by using it as an estimator of the probability that on-the-job training is offered to employees. The differences in the specificity of required human capital between different industries and occupations are also investigated in this paper. The proposed job specificity measure can be used for planning the public sector support to on-the-job training as the companiesí decisions to pay for training depend on the specificity of required human capital.

Keywords: human capital; skills; on-the-job training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 M53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17
Date: 2005
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hrm and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Working Papers in Economics, School of Economics and Business Administration,Tallinn University of Technology (TUTWPE), Volume 17, Pages 21-37

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