RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 General Education, Vocational Education, and Labor-Market Outcomes over the Life-Cycle JF Journal of Human Resources JO J Hum Resour FD University of Wisconsin Press DO 10.3368/jhr.52.1.0415-7074R A1 Hanushek, Eric A. A1 Schwerdt, Guido A1 Woessmann, Ludger A1 Zhang, Lei YR 2016 UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2016/03/04/jhr.52.1.0415-7074R.abstract AB Policy proposals promoting vocational education focus on the school-to-work transition. But with technological change, gains in youth employment may be offset by less adaptability and diminished employment later in life. To test for this trade-off, we employ a difference-indifferences approach that compares employment rates across different ages for people with general and vocational education. Using micro data for 11 countries from IALS, we find strong and robust support for such a trade-off, especially in countries emphasizing apprenticeship programs. German Microcensus data and Austrian administrative data confirm the results for within-occupational-group analysis and for exogenous variation from plant closures, respectively.