Occupational Credentials for Jobs in the Subbaccalaureate Economy: The Case of the Emerging Energy Sector in Ohio

Using data on a mid-sized community college in northeast Ohio as a case study, we examine patterns of enrollment in petroleum technology credential programs and labor market returns to those credentials. The enrollment analysis yields mixed results. Strong industry conditions represented by an incre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AERA open 2020-07, Vol.6 (3)
Main Authors: Bozick, Robert, Doss, Christopher, Gonzalez, Gabriella, Siler-Evans, Kyle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic degrees
Associate Degrees
Certification
Community Colleges
Education Work Relationship
Educational Certificates
Enrollment
Fuels
Labor market
Outcomes of Education
Power Technology
Quasi-experimental methods
Technical Education
Vocational education
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Summary:Using data on a mid-sized community college in northeast Ohio as a case study, we examine patterns of enrollment in petroleum technology credential programs and labor market returns to those credentials. The enrollment analysis yields mixed results. Strong industry conditions represented by an increase in oil prices is associated with a decline in program enrollment; however, higher wages for petroleum workers is associated with increased program enrollment. Earning analyses were unambiguous: Obtaining a certificate or an associate’s degree was associated with outsized quarterly earnings returns of $2,900 and $5,500, respectively. This study suggests that partnerships that align subbaccalaureate postsecondary education to the needs of local labor markets may result in occupational credentials with substantially larger returns than those observed in the literature.
ISSN:2332-8584
2332-8584
DOI:10.1177/2332858420957250