Graduates' personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates

Judith Semeijn; Christophe Boone; Rolf van der Velden; Arjen van Witteloostuijn

doi:10.1016/j.econedurev.2004.03.006

Graduates' personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates

Judith Semeijn^*
, Christophe Boone
, Rolf van der Velden
, Arjen van Witteloostuijn

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In this study, we explore the value of personality characteristics in explaining success in labor market entry with a sample of graduates in economics from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Specifically, the paper addresses the following twofold research question: does personality explain labor market outcomes, and how much weight does this 'generic' factor have compared to traditional human capital and individual preference variables such as study results, study field and demographic characteristics? Personality is measured both by separate indicators for traits as well as by the so-called 'profiles', based on combinations of these indicators. The results show that both measurement methods reveal significant personality effects, which are independent from the effects of traditional human capital variables, such as grade point averages in the academic program, and work experience. A key finding is that both types of factors have their own and independent effect on labor market outcomes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	67-83
Number of pages	17
Journal	Economics of Education Review
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2004.03.006
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2005
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This research has been supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The authors like to thank the following persons for their helpful comments on earlier versions of the paper: the participants of the EDINEB-conference in 1999 in Bergen/Norway, the participants of the Human Capital workshop in 2000 in Maastricht/The Netherlands, Jim Allen, Andries de Grip, and the anonymous referees of this journal.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Keywords

Human capital
Personality
Productivity

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10.1016/j.econedurev.2004.03.006

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Cite this

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title = "Graduates' personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates",

abstract = "In this study, we explore the value of personality characteristics in explaining success in labor market entry with a sample of graduates in economics from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Specifically, the paper addresses the following twofold research question: does personality explain labor market outcomes, and how much weight does this 'generic' factor have compared to traditional human capital and individual preference variables such as study results, study field and demographic characteristics? Personality is measured both by separate indicators for traits as well as by the so-called 'profiles', based on combinations of these indicators. The results show that both measurement methods reveal significant personality effects, which are independent from the effects of traditional human capital variables, such as grade point averages in the academic program, and work experience. A key finding is that both types of factors have their own and independent effect on labor market outcomes.",

keywords = "Human capital, Personality, Productivity",

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AU - Boone, Christophe

AU - van der Velden, Rolf

AU - van Witteloostuijn, Arjen

PY - 2005/2/1

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N2 - In this study, we explore the value of personality characteristics in explaining success in labor market entry with a sample of graduates in economics from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Specifically, the paper addresses the following twofold research question: does personality explain labor market outcomes, and how much weight does this 'generic' factor have compared to traditional human capital and individual preference variables such as study results, study field and demographic characteristics? Personality is measured both by separate indicators for traits as well as by the so-called 'profiles', based on combinations of these indicators. The results show that both measurement methods reveal significant personality effects, which are independent from the effects of traditional human capital variables, such as grade point averages in the academic program, and work experience. A key finding is that both types of factors have their own and independent effect on labor market outcomes.

AB - In this study, we explore the value of personality characteristics in explaining success in labor market entry with a sample of graduates in economics from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Specifically, the paper addresses the following twofold research question: does personality explain labor market outcomes, and how much weight does this 'generic' factor have compared to traditional human capital and individual preference variables such as study results, study field and demographic characteristics? Personality is measured both by separate indicators for traits as well as by the so-called 'profiles', based on combinations of these indicators. The results show that both measurement methods reveal significant personality effects, which are independent from the effects of traditional human capital variables, such as grade point averages in the academic program, and work experience. A key finding is that both types of factors have their own and independent effect on labor market outcomes.

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KW - Productivity

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Graduates' personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

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