Work

Demand for College Labor in the 21st Century

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Tracing the evolution of labor demand in the United States, this Economic Commentary reveals that the disproportionate rise in relative productivity of college-educated labor that shaped the latter half of the 20th century has plateaued since 2000. Our analysis suggests that technical change in the 21st century no longer favors college graduates and that further growth in the employment share of college-educated workers will likely lower the premium that college-educated workers receive compared with non-college-educated workers.

Source: Economic Commentary (Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland)

DOI: 10.26509/frbc-ec-202504

Authors: Barış Kaymak, Alexander B. Cline

Institution: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Language: English

Topic: Labor market dynamics and wage inequality

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4408930368