New methods for exploring labor market outcomes: Examining wages for award completers at California Community Colleges Patrick Perry Ryan Fuller

Introduction Background Interest in earnings of those who complete an award, especially vocational award. Match of California Employment Development (EDD) Unemployment Insurance (UI) wage data with the Chancellor's Office What are students earnings after completing an award at a California Community College?

Literature Friedlander (1993, 1996) first to examine wage gains for California Community College students Sanchez, Laanan and Wiseley (1999) systemwide examination of wage gains for California Community College students (completers and leavers) CCCCO (2008) ARCC systemwide wages for vocational completers

Methodology Two different methodologies – Systemwide wages for award completers – By campus wages for award completers Award completer data joined with EDDUI wage data. Both wage methodologies break out by award discipline (6 digit TOP code) and award type.

Systemwide Award Completer Wages Award completers in a given academic year, exclude: – Enrolled anywhere in higher education after award – Under 21 at time of award Join with EDDUI (Unemployment Insurance) wage file Sum all quarters of wages to student annual wage All wages inflation adjusted using California CPI-U Calculate median wages by discipline and award type Median calculated for students with wages 2 years before award, 2 years after and 5 years after award

By College, Award Completer Wages Same methodology as statewide wages, except: – Series of 8 years of award completers (to increase the number of students in the cohorts) – Median calculated for students in cohort with wages 3 years after award Calculate median wages by “college,” discipline and award type

Systemwide vs. By College Methodology Wages By College Awards Systemwide Awards Wages

Data Caveats EDDUI Data contains wages of occupations covered by CA Unemployment Insurance Excludes military, federal government, self- employed, out of state and unemployed No way of determining part time or full time wages. Hours worked not in the EDDUI data. Only students with SSNs Wages are adjusted for inflation to current dollars using the California CPI-U

Analysis Caveats Data reflects only the wage outcomes of award earners who remained in California Region/locale significantly impacts wages (i.e. cost of living), caution in comparing earnings across the state. Wages are not necessarily from employment associated with a particular award discipline, no information on job Short term wage outcomes should not be a sole measure of institutional effectiveness or program quality Other factors besides earnings motivate students to earn an award in a specific discipline

Demonstration Query modules using both the Systemwide and ‘By College’ methods will be available in datamart (System Wage Tracker & College Wage Tracker) Can also access through wagetracker.cccco.edu

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