Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/249200 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 858 [rev.]
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
In this paper, we use the Chinese General Social Survey data (2010-2017) to analyse the returns to different education qualifications. We additionally compare the returns to vocational education with returns to academic education, at both the upper secondary level and the tertiary level. Compared to those who only complete compulsory education, upper secondary graduates earn about 20% more, vocational college graduates earn 50%, and academic university graduates earn 75% more. At tertiary level, academic education pays better than vocational education, although the difference shrinks over the years. At upper secondary level, the evidence is indeterminate, depending on different econometric techniques (i.e., OLS, IV, Lewbel method, or PSM). These findings add to the limited quantitative evidence on returns to vocational education. The dynamics emerged from the findings echo the discussion on labor market mismatch and overeducation in China, which has important policy implications.
Subjects: 
dynamic
vocational education
academic education
upper secondary
tertiary
China
JEL: 
I26
I25
J24
J31
C36
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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