College
College of Business Administration (CBA)
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-04 00:08:46
Major
Economics
Honors Course
3250:497
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2021
Abstract
This research examines the effect that low skill job opportunities have on the probability of enrollment in postsecondary institutions between men and women, namely the construction and manufacturing industries. The research is based on the human capital investment theory, which states that individuals will enroll in postsecondary institutions when the perceived benefits outweigh the costs. More job opportunity heightens the opportunity cost of enrollment, hence lowering the probability of enrollment. After running a probit model, there is evidence that enrollment is countercyclical and that enrollment decisions do not vary significantly between men and women. I find that a 1 percent increase in the state unemployment rate increases the probability of enrollment by 0.312 and 0.331 percent for men and women, respectively. It is found that an increase in the employment in the construction and manufacturing industries leads to an increased probability of enrollment in postsecondary institutions, which rejects the hypothesis in this research. However, there is a limitation to this since not all low skilled industries are accounted for.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Francesco Renna
First Reader
Dr. Francesco Renna
Second Reader
Dr. Amanda Weinstein
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Elizabeth Erickson
Recommended Citation
Radesic, Mallory, "The Effect of Low Skill Job Opportunities on Postsecondary Enrollment" (2021). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1177.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1177
Included in
Business Commons, Econometrics Commons, Labor Economics Commons