Do High School Industry Certifications Reflect Local Labor Market Demand? An Examination of Florida

Abstract

Industry-recognized credentials, or certifications, provide one path to match people with jobs effectively. Certifications are nationally recognized, standardized credentials created by businesses and industry groups to demonstrate proficiency in skills related to specific jobs. State education systems increasingly provide students the opportunity to earn certifications in secondary school. In this study, we examine whether local labor market demand for certifications is associated with the likelihood of earning a certification in high school. Using comprehensive administrative data on a cohort of first-time ninth graders from the state of Florida, which has legislation encouraging certification attainment in high school, we find limited evidence for a relationship between certification demand and certification earning. However, high school students are more likely to earn certifications in some fields, such as health science, when local labor market demand for those certifications is high.