The Impact of Higher Education on Employer Perceptions.

Autor/inn/en	Stans, Renske; Ehrmantraut, Laura; Siemers, Malin; Pinger, Pia
Institution	Reinhard Selten Institute / ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy
Titel	The Impact of Higher Education on Employer Perceptions. Gefälligkeitsübersetzung: Die Auswirkungen der Hochschulbildung auf die Wahrnehmung des Arbeitgebers.
Quelle	Köln; Bonn (2025), 87 S. PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Reihe	ECONtribute discussion paper. 356
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Monografie
Schlagwörter	Zuverlässigkeit; Intelligenz (Psychologie); Kognitive Kompetenz; Kompetenzmessung; Wahrnehmung; Einkommenseffekt; Personalauswahl; Arbeitsproduktivität; Arbeitsuchender; Studium; Betriebswirtschaftslehre; Master-Studiengang; Bachelor-Studiengang; Abbruch; Arbeitspapier; Auswirkung; Hochschulabsolvent; Arbeitgeber; Deutschland
Abstract	"Do employers seek to attract individuals with more education because it enhances human capital or because it signals higher levels of pre-existing traits? We experimentally vary master's degree completion rates on applicant résumés and examine howthis influences candidates' desirability and employer perceptions of their productive characteristics. Our findings show that while a completed master's degree increases desirability, an incomplete master's degree is perceived by human resource managers as less favorable than a bachelor's degree. This suggests that employers prefer candidates with higher education mainly because they view the degree as a signal of pre-existing productive traits. Consistent with this, employers perceive both cognitive and non-cognitive traits as stronger in master graduates but non-cognitive traits as weaker in master dropouts compared to bachelor's degree holders. Overall, perceived cognitive and non-cognitive traits play a larger role in determining a candidate's attractiveness than expertise. This paper thus provides causal evidence on the origins of the education premium." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku).
Erfasst von	Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Nürnberg
Update	2025/3