RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Do Microcredentials Help New Workers Enter the Market? Evidence from an Online Labor Platform
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0519-10226R3
DO 10.3368/jhr.0519-10226R3
A1 Kässi, Otto
A1 Lehdonvirta, Vili
YR 2022
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2022/03/01/jhr.0519-10226R3.abstract
AB We investigate the effects of a voluntary microcredentialing scheme on an online freelancing labor market. Drawing on transaction-level data, we show that obtaining a microcredential increases workers’ earnings. This effect is not driven by increased worker productivity but by decreased employer uncertainty. The increase in worker earnings is realized through an increase in the value of the projects won rather than an increase in the number of projects. We also find that the effect of microcredentials is lower for more experienced workers, which suggests that signaling by microcredentials and other forms of verified information are partial substitutes.