A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Do Microcredentials Help New Workers Enter the Market? Evidence from an Online Labor Platform




AuthorsKässi, Otto; Lehdonvirta, Vili

PublisherUniversity of Wisconsin Press

Publication year2024

Journal: Journal of Human Resources

Volume59

Issue4

First page 1284

Last page1318

eISSN1548-8004

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0519-10226R3

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2022/03/01/jhr.0519-10226R3.abstract

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/73954222


Abstract

We investigate the effects of a voluntary microcredentialing scheme on an online freelancing labor market. Drawing on transaction-level data, we show that obtaining a microcredential increases workers’ earnings. This effect is not driven by increased worker productivity but by decreased employer uncertainty. The increase in worker earnings is realized through an increase in the value of the projects won rather than an increase in the number of projects. We also find that the effect of microcredentials is lower for more experienced workers, which suggests that signaling by microcredentials and other forms of verified information are partial substitutes.


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