Conformity and Soft Skills as Determinants of Alternatively Credentialed Non-College Graduate Hireability

Despite targeting technical skills, vocational school graduates earn less thancollege graduates. This paper presents evidence that conformity selection andperceived skill gaps explain differences in hireability. Microdata from the UnitedStates reveal a perceived soft skill deficit for alternatively credentialed noncollege graduate (ACNG) labor. Conformity is also important, but the directionof effect is heterogenous by employer type. Conformity and perceived skillgaps explain about one-third of the hireability variance. Perceived soft skillgaps explain more hireability variance than widely recognized factors like theindustry of occupation. Opposite conventional explanation, results suggest thatconformity reduces hireability on average. Respondents tend to perceive ACNGcandidates as an even mix of high and low performers. Evidence favors employerrisk aversion toward labor productivity as a preferred explanation of low ACNGdemand. The conclusion incorporates discussion of public misperception onvocational school costs and suggests activities to reduce unconscious bias