Does Formal Education for Older Workers Increase Earnings? Analyzing Annual Data Stretching Over 25 Years

Governments in the US, Canada and Europe have expressed an ambition to stimulate education of older. In this paper, we analyze if there are effects on annual earnings of formal education for participants aged 42-55 at the time of enrolment in 1994-1995. The analysis explores longitudinal population register data stretching from 1982 to 2007. The method used is difference-in-differences propensity score matching based on a rich set of covariates, including indicators of health and labor market marginalization. Results differ from earlier studies, implying no significant average earnings effects for males, positive effects for females, although insufficient to cover total costs.