Date of Award
Spring 2024
Degree
MS
Abstract
This study investigates the persistence of horizontal skill mismatches among African-American college graduates in the U.S. labor market and explores the influence of community racial composition on job placement and wage levels. Utilizing data from the American Community Survey (2018-2019), the research constructs a Match Quality Index to assess the alignment between individuals' fields of study and their occupations. The analysis reveals that African-Americans are disproportionately affected by horizontal mismatches, which result in underemployment and wage penalties, despite similar educational backgrounds compared to their counterparts. The findings suggest that larger African-American networks within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) correlate with slightly improved job matches, particularly for those without college degrees. This study contributes to the discourse on racial disparities in employment by highlighting the systemic barriers and proposing targeted interventions to improve the economic outcomes for African-American workers.
Access Control
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Wardak, Mimla, "Horizontal Skill Mismatch Among College Graduates: Analyzing Job Placement for African American in the U.S" (2024). Theses - Graduate Programs in Economic Theory and Policy. 51.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/levy_ms/51