Credits that count: High school vocational education from sibling comparisons

Yue Louise Hu

No 2026/9, Discussion Papers from Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics

Abstract: Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, this paper exploits within-sibling differences in vocational coursework credits taken during high school to estimate their effects on educational and labor market outcomes. I find that additional vocational course-work reduces four-year college attendance without affecting college graduation among those who enroll, and is associated with higher annual earnings that persist into the mid-thirties. This evidence suggests that vocational education helps students realize their comparative advantage and sort into different educational paths, which benefit their labor market outcomes. The findings point to high school vocational education providing sustained economic benefits without compromising overall educational attainment, and benefiting students with diverse educational trajectories.

Keywords: Vocational Education; Career and Technical Education; Labor Market Outcomes; Human Capital; NLSY97 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I28 J24 J26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-lma
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:fubsbe:340112

DOI: 10.17169/refubium-52009

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