The Return on Post-Compulsory School Mathematics Study

What are the essential skills learned at school that are required for the labour market? The issue is particularly policy relevant in the UK, where the 16-19 secondary school curriculum (A levels) is undergoing major reform. This paper uses data from the UK to investigate the impact of different academic subjects in secondary school on pupils' subsequent earning, particularly the impact of studying advanced mathematical curricula. We find that individuals with an advanced (A-level) mathematics qualification earn 7%-10% more than similarly educated workers without this qualification, even after controlling for the initial ability of these individuals