Date Available
7-29-2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Year of Publication
2024
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Education
Department/School/Program
Educational Policy Studies and Eval
First Advisor
Dr. Kelly D. Bradley
Abstract
The dissertation asks the following question: Have occupations increased academic degree requirements over time?
The literature review provides background on the origin and criticisms of the concept of a “knowledge economy.” It addresses economic “signaling theory” and sociologic “credentialism.”
The methodology relies on a trend analysis using the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook and the occupations’ Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and its predecessor the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). In order to address whether occupations have increased academic degree requirements over time, this dissertation will compare entry-level education requirements for BLS SOC occupations that today are assumed to require Associate degrees, Bachelor’s degrees, and Master’s degrees.
The results will reveal that, generally, entry-level formal degree requirements for occupations identified by the BLS have increased over time.
This dissertation notes that the results presented are descriptive only and apply to the whole “economy.” While the results from this dissertation cannot claim that every occupation identified by the BLS is experiencing “credential inflation” or “degree inflation,” the dissertation will discuss implications of the results that are of relevance to the assumptions behind “credentialism” and “credential inflation.” Implications of the results for “returns-to-education” also are discussed.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.382
Recommended Citation
Grinstead, William Nicholas, "Increasing Expectations for Entry: Analyzing Changes in Labor Market Entry-Level Education Requirements Over Time with Potential Implications for Credential or Degree Inflation and Returns-to-Education" (2024). Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation. 102.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/epe_etds/102
