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From school to first job: a longitudinal analysis

Research output: Working paper

Published
Publication date2005
Place of PublicationLancaster University
PublisherThe Department of Economics
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Publication series

NameEconomics Working Paper Series

Abstract

This paper investigates the transition from high school to first job using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study 1988-2000. A proportional hazards model is estimated to identify the determinants of time-to-first-job. In contrast to earlier studies, there is strong evidence of positive duration dependence after controlling for unobserved heterogeneity. Time-to-first-job is correlated with educational attainment and type of school program attended. Attending a vocational program reduces time-to-first-job, but dropouts who obtain the General Educational Development qualification as an alternative to high school graduation do not improve their chances of getting a job more quickly. Family background is insignificant.