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




Kässi, Otto; Lehdonvirta, Vili

PublisherUniversity of Wisconsin Press

2024

Journal of Human Resources

59

4

1284

1318

1548-8004

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

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

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/73954222



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.


Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 20:45