Date of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Director of Thesis
Dr. Douglas Woodward
First Reader
Dr. Joseph Von Nessen
Second Reader
Dr. Joseph Von Nessen
Abstract
This thesis assesses the economic impact of the South Carolina Technical College System by applying a counterfactual analysis method to the study of human capital development and labor force growth from 2010-2019. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) are used to estimate the average years of schooling attained by a South Carolinian during the period and the counterfactual average were the Technical College System to not exist. This result is then combined with probit regression models of labor force participation and employment to estimate the Technical College System’s contribution to the labor force participation rate and the employment rate. We find the South Carolina Technical College System makes a modest contribution to average years of schooling of between 0.0771 and 0.1153 years. Despite finding years of schooling has a positive and statistically significant relationship with labor force participation and employment, the Technical College System has little effect on the labor force participation rate or employment rate through that mechanism. However, the System could have a potential impact on those measures through other avenues, and there is abundant room for further research on the subject.
First Page
1
Last Page
38
Recommended Citation
Land, Justin, "The Contribution of the South Carolina Technical College System to Human Capital, Labor Force Participation, and Employment" (2024). Senior Theses. 650.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/senior_theses/650
Rights
© 2024, Justin Land