From Theory to Practice: Field Experimental Evidence on Early Exposure of Engineering Majors to Professional Work

Kevin Boudreau and Matt Marx

No 26013, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Young workers typically enter the professional labor market only after completing higher education. We investigate how earlier professional work experience affects skilled worker development. In a field experiment, 1,787 Engineering majors were randomly assigned to 6-month work terms to begin either in the second or third year of studies. Early exposure caused systematic differences in inclination to take Engineering elective courses, choice of major, and the probability of persisting in Engineering years later—consistent with engagement, retention, and sorting effects. Early exposure notably increased academic and professional outcomes of lower-income students.

JEL-codes: I21 J2 O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-lma and nep-ure
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