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What Happens to Students with Low Reading Proficiency at 15? Evidence from Australia
Author(s) -
Polidano Cain,
Ryan Chris
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
economic record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1475-4932
pISSN - 0013-0249
DOI - 10.1111/1475-4932.12367
Subject(s) - disadvantaged , reading (process) , vocational education , demographic economics , psychology , language proficiency , longitudinal study , postsecondary education , longitudinal data , medical education , mathematics education , demography , higher education , pedagogy , economics , political science , medicine , economic growth , sociology , pathology , law
While illiterate adults are disadvantaged in the labour market, it is unclear whether low reading proficiency in school diminishes employment prospects in adulthood. We fill this gap using data on participants in the 2003 Program of International Student Assessment who were tracked to age 25 in the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth. We find no difference in full‐time employment rates or earning capacity of jobs attained at age 25 associated with low reading proficiency at 15. Those with low reading proficiency are found to avoid negative effects through high rates of participation and positive outcomes from vocational education and training.