The Forgotten Half: A Comparison of Dropouts and Graduates in Their Early Work Experience - The Icelandic Case

This research is concerned with the high dropout rate from Icelandic secondary schools - half of all Icelandic students do not complete a degree - and attempts to analyze the relationship between schooling and early career jobs through focusing on the work experience of dropouts as compared to graduates. The main question for the study concerns to what extent diplomas and degrees count in hiring decisions and job rewards. It goes on to discuss the economics of education and future directions in educational programs, with an emphasis on occupationally- oriented education.