Where Are the Returns to Lifelong Learning?

Michael Coelli and Domenico Tabasso

No 9509, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

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 fixed 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) lead 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.

Keywords: returns to education; vocational studies; lifelong learning; adult education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 I28 J24 J28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 41 pages
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 (2)

Published - published in: Empirical Economics, 2019, 57 (1), 205-237

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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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