The Earnings of Veterans: Effects of Military Service
Abstract
This thesis examines the effects of military service on veterans earnings in the civilian labor force. This is important as the services allocate large amounts of resources to not only ensure readiness for the next mission, but to understand its return on investment and how to recruit and retain the force. Using data from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series 2000 2012 and multivariate analysis, this thesis identifies premiums and penalties in the civilian labor market associated with active service during conscription and the All-Volunteer Force. The analysis controls for educational attainment, occupation, race, periods of service, and active service years, and finds a penalty for veterans who have a post high school education, who, on average, have earnings that are lower than their observationally similar non-veteran counterparts. In addition, veterans in business and finance are observed to have a penalty for military service, compared to veterans in other occupations who are observed to earn more than non-veteran counterparts. Overall, this thesis finds a premium associated with service, as measured by post-service civilian earnings. The benefit of service varies across occupations, educational attainment and other factors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA620718
Entities
People
- Russell J. Sansone
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School