Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Previous research finds large gaps in the labor market outcomes for the Indigenous population. Despite recent improvements, Indigenous workers lag other racial groups in terms of educational attainment and earnings. This study uses the 5-year American Community Survey Data (2018-2022) to estimate earning gains (returns to education) associated with college education for Indigenous workers and examine how Indigenous workers fare compared to workers from other racial groups. The research finds that the marginal benefit to a college education is lower for AIAN workers when compared to their white peers. In fact, the marginal benefit from a college education compared to their white peers is lowest for Indigenous workers than any other racial group. The research further finds that the marginal benefit to a college education is significantly larger for Indigenous women than Indigenous men. Despite larger marginal benefits, Indigenous women (and also men) earn significantly lower average earnings in the labor market. There are a multitude of potential reasons but most notably, systemic inequality, biases, lack of opportunities and resources, and racial discrimination are factors that need to be addressed.
Recommended Citation
Big Crow, Kianna
()
"Returns to Education for Indigenous Populations in the US: How Women Compared to Men?,"
Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal: Vol. 11:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61366/2576-2176.1157
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/horizons/vol11/iss2/1
Primo Type
Article