IR Applications #32 Now Available
Measuring Transitions Into The Workforce As A Form Of Accountability (November
2011)
Tom Schenk Jr., Iowa Department of Education
This paper explores
the relationship between student major and industry of employment and its application
to higher education accountability. Data provided by statewide longitudinal data
systems (SLDS) have enabled state educational agencies and colleges to follow students
into the workforce. While most studies have focused on wage outcomes, this study
shows how to use SLDS data to understand the correlation between major and industry.
The transition into the workforce is an important outcome since it is an assessment
of a college’s ability to develop specific, targeted sectors of the economy. We
use SLDS data from Iowa to follow community college alumni from 2002 through 2008.
You can view or download
IR Applications #32 from the AIR web site.