Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
    • Free Issue
    • Special Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
    • Alerts
  • Announcements
  • Special Issue
  • Other Publications
    • UW Press Journals

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Human Resources
  • Other Publications
    • UW Press Journals
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Human Resources

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
    • Free Issue
    • Special Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
    • Alerts
  • Announcements
  • Special Issue
  • Follow uwp on Twitter
  • Follow JHR on Bluesky
Research ArticleArticles

Labor Market Signaling and the Value of College

Evidence from Resumes and the Truth

View ORCID ProfileDaniel Kreisman, Jonathan Smith and Bondi Arifin
Journal of Human Resources, November 2023, 58 (6) 1820-1849; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0119-9979R2
Daniel Kreisman
Daniel Kreisman is at Georgia State University (dkreisman{at}gsu.edu).
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Daniel Kreisman
Jonathan Smith
Jonathan Smith is at Georgia State University.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Bondi Arifin
Bondi Arifin is at Ministry of Finance, Republic of Indonesia.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

References

  1. ↵
    1. Altonji, J.G., and
    2. C.R. Pierret
    . 2001. “Employer Learning and Statistical Discrimination.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 116(1): 313–50.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  2. ↵
    1. Araki, S.,
    2. D. Kawaguchi, and
    3. Y. Onozuka
    . 2016. “University Prestige, Performance Evaluation, and Promotion: Estimating the Employer Learning Model Using Personnel Datasets.” Labour Economics 41: 135–48.
    OpenUrl
  3. ↵
    1. Arcidiacono, P.,
    2. P. Bayer, and
    3. A. Hizmo
    . 2010. “Beyond Signaling and Human Capital: Education and the Revelation of Ability.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 2(4): 76–104.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  4. ↵
    1. Babcock, P.
    2003. “Spotting Lies Reference Checks Alone Won’t Protect You from a Mendacious Job Applicant.” HR Magazine 48(10): 46–53.
    OpenUrl
  5. ↵
    1. Bauer, T.K., and
    2. J.P. Haisken-DeNew
    . 2001. “Employer Learning and the Returns to Schooling. Labour Economics 8(2): 161–80.
    OpenUrl
  6. ↵
    1. Bertrand, M., and
    2. S. Mullainathan
    . 2004. “Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination.” American Economic Review 94(4): 991–1013.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  7. ↵
    1. Black, D.,
    2. S. Sanders, and
    3. L. Taylor
    . 2003. “Measurement of Higher Education in the Census and Current Population Survey.” Journal of the American Statistical Association 98(463): 545–54.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  8. ↵
    1. Cellini, S.R., and
    2. N. Turner
    . 2016. “Gainfully Employed? Assessing the Employment and Earnings of For-Profit College Students Using Administrative Data.” NBER Working Paper 22287. Cambridge, MA: NBER.
  9. ↵
    1. Clemens, J.,
    2. L.B. Khan, and
    3. J. Meer
    . 2021. “Dropouts Need Not Apply: The Minimum Wage and Skill Upgrading.” Journal of Labor Economics 39(S1): S107–S149.
    OpenUrl
  10. ↵
    1. Deming, D.J.
    2017. “The Growing Importance of Social Skills in the Labor Market.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 132(4): 1593–640.
    OpenUrl
  11. ↵
    1. Deming, D., and
    2. L.B. Kahn
    . 2018. “Skill Requirements across Firms and Labor Markets: Evidence from Job Postings for Professionals.” Journal of Labor Economics 36(S1): S337–S369.
    OpenUrl
  12. ↵
    1. Deming, D.J.,
    2. N. Yuchtman,
    3. A. Abulafi,
    4. C. Goldin, and
    5. L.F. Katz
    . 2016. “The Value of Postsecondary Credentials in the Labor Market: An Experimental Study.” American Economic Review 106(3): 778–806.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  13. ↵
    1. Dynarski, S.M.,
    2. S.W. Hemelt, and
    3. J.M. Hyman
    . 2015. “The Missing Manual: Using National Student Clearinghouse Data to Track Postsecondary Outcomes.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 37(1 Suppl.): S53–S79.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  14. ↵
    1. Dynarski, S.,
    2. B. Jacob, and
    3. D. Kreisman
    . 2018. “How Important Are Fixed Effects and Time Trends in Estimating Returns to Schooling? Evidence from a Replication of Jacobson, Lalonde, and Sullivan 2005.” Journal of Applied Econometrics 33(7): 1098–108.
    OpenUrl
  15. ↵
    1. Farber, H.S., and
    2. R. Gibbons
    . 1996. “Learning and Wage Dynamics.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 111(4): 1007–47.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  16. ↵
    1. Heckman, J.J.,
    2. J. Stixrud, and
    3. S. Urzua
    . 2006. “The Effects of Cognitive and Noncognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes and Social Behavior.” Journal of Labor Economics 24(3): 411–82.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  17. ↵
    1. Helleseter, M.D.,
    2. P. Kuhn, and
    3. K. Shen
    . 2020. “The Age Twist in Employers’ Gender Requests: Evidence from Four Job Boards.” Journal of Human Resources 55(2): 428–69.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  18. ↵
    1. Hershbein, B., and
    2. L.B. Kahn
    . 2018. “Do Recessions Accelerate Routine-Biased Technological Change? Evidence from Vacancy Postings.” American Economic Review 108(7): 1737–72.
    OpenUrl
  19. ↵
    1. Hungerford, T., and
    2. G. Solon
    . 1987. “Sheepskin Effects in the Returns to Education.” Review of Economics and Statistics 69(1): 175–77.
    OpenUrl
  20. ↵
    1. Jacobson, L.,
    2. R. LaLonde, and
    3. D.G. Sullivan
    . 2005. “Estimating the Returns to Community College Schooling for Displaced Workers.” Journal of Econometrics 125(1–2):271–304.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  21. ↵
    1. Jaeger, D.A. and
    2. M.E. Page
    . 1996. “Degrees Matter: New Evidence on Sheepskin Effects in the Returns to Education.” Review of Economics and Statistics 78(4): 733–40.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  22. ↵
    1. Jepsen, C.,
    2. K. Troske, and
    3. P. Coomes
    . 2014. “The Labor-Market Returns to Community College Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates.” Journal of Labor Economics 32(1): 95–121.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  23. ↵
    1. Kahn, L.B.
    2013. “Asymmetric Information between Employers.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 5(4): 165–205.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  24. ↵
    1. Kahn, L.B., and
    2. F. Lange
    . 2014. “Employer Learning, Productivity, and the Earnings Distribution: Evidence from Performance Measures.” Review of Economic Studies 81(4): 1575–613.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  25. ↵
    1. Kane, T.J., and
    2. C.E. Rouse
    . 1995. “Labor-Market Returns to Two- and Four-Year College.” American Economic Review 85(3): 600–614.
    OpenUrlWeb of Science
  26. ↵
    1. Kane, T.J.,
    2. C.E. Rouse, and
    3. D. Staiger
    . 1999. “Estimating Returns to Schooling When Schooling Is Misreported.” NBER Working Paper w7235. Cambridge, MA: NBER.
  27. ↵
    1. Kroft, K.,
    2. F. Lange, and
    3. M.J. Notowidigdo
    . 2013. “Duration Dependence and Labor Market Conditions: Evidence from a Field Experiment.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 128(3): 1123–67.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  28. ↵
    1. Kuhn, P., and
    2. K. Shen
    . 2012. “Gender Discrimination in Job Ads: Evidence from China.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 128(1): 287–336.
    OpenUrl
  29. ↵
    1. Kuhn, P., and
    2. K. Shen
    . 2015. “Do Employers Prefer Migrant Workers? Evidence from a Chinese Job Board.” IZA Journal of Labor Economics 4(1): 22.
    OpenUrl
  30. ↵
    1. Kuhn, P., and
    2. K. Shen
    . 2016. “Gender-Targeted Job Ads in the Recruitment Process: Evidence from China.” Unpublished.
  31. ↵
    1. Lange, F.
    2007. The Speed of Employer Learning.” Journal of Labor Economics 25(1): 1–35.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  32. ↵
    1. Light, A., and
    2. A. McGee
    . 2015a. “Does Employer Learning Vary by Schooling Attainment? The Answer Depends on How Career Start Dates Are Defined.” Labour Economics 32: 57–66.
    OpenUrl
  33. ↵
    1. Light, A., and
    2. A. McGee
    . 2015b. “Employer Learning and the ‘Importance’ of Skills.” Journal of Human Resources 50(1): 72–107.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  34. ↵
    1. Mansour, H.
    2012. “Does Employer Learning Vary by Occupation?” Journal of Labor Economics 30(2): 415–44.
    OpenUrl
  35. ↵
    1. Marinescu, I.
    2017. “The General Equilibrium Impacts of Unemployment Insurance: Evidence from a Large Online Job Board.” Journal of Public Economics 150: 14–29.
    OpenUrl
  36. ↵
    1. Oettinger, G.S.
    1996. “Statistical Discrimination and the Early Career Evolution of the Black–White Wage Gap.” Journal of Labor Economics 14(1): 52–78.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  37. ↵
    1. Schönberg, U.
    2007. “Testing for Asymmetric Employer Learning.” Journal of Labor Economics 25(4): 651–91.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  38. ↵
    1. Schubert, G.,
    2. A. Stansbury, and
    3. B. Taska
    . 2019. “Mitigating Monopsony: Occupational Mobility and outside Options.” Unpublished.
  39. ↵
    1. Shapiro, D.,
    2. A. Dundar,
    3. X. Yuan,
    4. A.T. Harrell,
    5. J.C. Wild, and
    6. M.B. Ziskin
    . 2014. “Some College, No Degree: A National View of Students with Some College Enrollment, but No Completion.” Signature Report 7. Herndon, VA: National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
  40. ↵
    1. Shen, K., and
    2. P. Kuhn
    . 2013. “Do Chinese Employers Avoid Hiring Overqualified Workers? Evidence from an Internet Job Board.” In Labor Market Issues in China, ed. C. Giulietti, K. Tatsiramos, and K.F. Zimmermann, 1–30. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  41. ↵
    1. Smith, J., and
    2. K. Stange
    . 2016. “A New Measure of College Quality to Study the Effects of College Sector and Peers on Degree Attainment.” Education Finance and Policy 11(4): 369–403.
    OpenUrl
  42. ↵
    1. Spence, M.
    1973. “Job Market Signaling.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 87(3): 355–74.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  43. ↵
    1. Stiglitz, J.E.
    1975. “The Theory of ‘Screening,’ Education, and the Distribution of Income.” American Economic Review 65(3): 283–300.
    OpenUrlWeb of Science
  44. ↵
    1. Wood, J.L.,
    2. J.M. Schmidtke, and
    3. D.L. Decker
    . 2007. “Lying on Job Applications: The Effects of Job Relevance, Commission, and Human Resource Management Experience.” Journal of Business and Psychology 22(1): 1–9.
    OpenUrl
  45. ↵
    1. Zimmerman, S.D.
    2014. “The Returns to College Admission for Academically Marginal Students.” Journal of Labor Economics 32(4): 711–54.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Human Resources: 58 (6)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 58, Issue 6
1 Nov 2023
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Human Resources.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Labor Market Signaling and the Value of College
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Human Resources
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Human Resources web site.
Citation Tools
Labor Market Signaling and the Value of College
Daniel Kreisman, Jonathan Smith, Bondi Arifin
Journal of Human Resources Nov 2023, 58 (6) 1820-1849; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0119-9979R2

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Labor Market Signaling and the Value of College
Daniel Kreisman, Jonathan Smith, Bondi Arifin
Journal of Human Resources Nov 2023, 58 (6) 1820-1849; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0119-9979R2
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
    • ABSTRACT
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Data
    • III. Omitting Schooling
    • IV. Omitting Results
    • V. Lying
    • VI. Theoretical and Empirical Implications
    • VII. Conclusion
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Affordable Housing During Childhood Improves Long-Term Outcomes of Women and Their Children
  • Expectations about the Productivity of Effort and Academic Outcomes
  • Anticipatory Fertility
Show more Articles

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • J01
  • J24
UW Press logo

© 2026 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Powered by HighWire