What Is the Return to Your Degree Diploma? Income differences across educational levels, sectors and fields from 2015 to 2023

Abstract

This study investigates the development of income differences across 35–40-year-old Finnish graduates from different educational levels, sectors and fields between 2015 and 2023. The results are based on regression analyses controlling for a large set of background characteristics, including family background and primary school performance. The results suggest that, on average, educational attainment remains a high-return investment from individuals’ perspective. The income differences across educational levels are observed to have even increased after 2017. However, the income premiums for educational levels and their trends vary significantly by field of study. The findings emphasize the importance of the choice of field as an income determinant as well as the significance of having up-to-date information on returns to education.

• ISSN: 2954-2618 (Online)
• ISBN: 978-952-209-230-4 (Online)
• Publication in PDF-format