Hidden capital: Vocational credentials and attainment in the United States

Postsecondary vocational credentials are seldom used as measures of educational attainment in studies of labor force outcomes in the United States. When they are, they are usually combined into a single category that is thought to have less "value" than an associate's degree. This article shows that postsecondary vocational credentials have varied effects on early labor force outcomes. Thus, some credentials have greater value in. the labor force than an associate's degree, and their effects often differ for young men and women. The results suggest that sociologists are overlooking credentials that make major contributions to the careers of young Americans and that more systematic data collection and analysis are needed.