Field of study choice and labor market outcomes

TY - CHAP

T1 - Field of study choice and labor market outcomes

AU - Reimer, David

AU - Borgen, Nicolaj T.

PY - 2025/1/1

Y1 - 2025/1/1

N2 - This chapter presents and discusses the relevant literature on field of study choice and labor market outcomes. It extends across multiple disciplines, including sociology and economics, and emphasizes important methodological advancements in measuring and quantifying the impact of field of study choices. The theoretical framework for why labor market outcomes differ between graduates from different fields is outlined. The chapter also examines the role of field of study choice as a process of horizontal differentiation that may potentially exacerbate labor market inequality. Subsequently, methods for identifying causal effects of fields of study are reviewed, followed by a discussion of the methodological challenges in measuring fields of study in applied quantitative work. Next, the existing empirical literature on field of study effects is reviewed. To illustrate the relevance of field of study choices, the authors present an applied example utilizing recent Norwegian administrative data. Finally, the chapter concludes with a summary of key developments over the past decades and outlines potential directions for future research.

AB - This chapter presents and discusses the relevant literature on field of study choice and labor market outcomes. It extends across multiple disciplines, including sociology and economics, and emphasizes important methodological advancements in measuring and quantifying the impact of field of study choices. The theoretical framework for why labor market outcomes differ between graduates from different fields is outlined. The chapter also examines the role of field of study choice as a process of horizontal differentiation that may potentially exacerbate labor market inequality. Subsequently, methods for identifying causal effects of fields of study are reviewed, followed by a discussion of the methodological challenges in measuring fields of study in applied quantitative work. Next, the existing empirical literature on field of study effects is reviewed. To illustrate the relevance of field of study choices, the authors present an applied example utilizing recent Norwegian administrative data. Finally, the chapter concludes with a summary of key developments over the past decades and outlines potential directions for future research.

KW - Causal identification

KW - Ethnicity

KW - Field of study

KW - Gender

KW - Higher education, social background

KW - Labor market

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001745626&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.4337/9781035309917.00009

DO - 10.4337/9781035309917.00009

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 9781035309900

SP - 52

EP - 74

BT - Handbook of Education and Work

PB - Edward Elgar Publishing

CY - Cheltenham

ER -