Occupational Credentials for Jobs in the Subbaccalaureate Economy - The Case of the Emerging Energy Sector in Ohio

Oct 15, 2026

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Using data from a mid-sized community college in northeast Ohio, the study analyzes enrollment patterns in petroleum technology credential programs and the labor-market returns associated with those credentials. Enrollment findings are mixed: rising oil prices, signaling strong industry conditions, correspond to declining program enrollment, while higher petroleum worker wages align with increased enrollment. Certificate and associate’s degree attainment show clear, outsized quarterly earnings gains, suggesting larger returns than previously observed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

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Occupational Credentials for Jobs in the Subbaccalaureate Economy

Credential enrollment patterns and labor-market returns

Emerging energy sector context in Ohio

Study aims and research significance

AERA Open July-September 2020, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 1–17 DOI: 10. 1177/2332858420957250 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)© The Author(s) 2020. [http://journals.sagepub.com/home/ero](http://journals.sagepub.com/home/ero) Occupational Credentials for Jobs in the Subbaccalaureate Economy: The Case of the Emerging Energy Sector in Ohio Robert Bozick Rice University Christopher Doss RAND Corporation Gabriella Gonzalez Richard King Mellon Foundation Kyle Siler-Evans RAND Corporation Using data on a mid-sized community college in northeast Ohio as a case study, we examine patterns of enrollment in petroleum technology credential programs and labor market returns to those credentials. The enrollment analysis yields mixed results. Strong industry conditions represented by an increase in oil prices is associated with a decline in program enrollment; however, higher wages for petroleum workers is associated with increased program enrollment. Earning analyses were unambiguous: Obtaining a certificate or an associate’s degree was associated with outsized quarterly earnings returns of $2,900 and $5,500, respectively. This study suggests that partnerships that align subbaccalaureate postsecondary education to the needs of local labor markets may result in occupational credentials with substantially larger returns than those observed in the literature. Keywords: certification/licensure, community colleges, quasi-experimental analysis, secondary data analysis, vocational education, work A growing concern of educational policy makers and practitioners is whether and how postsecondary education and training providers can adapt both to the changing needs of the labor market, which increasingly requires occupationspecific technical skills, and to the changing needs of college students, who are increasingly diverse in terms of sociodemographic background and career goals. One popular approach to dealing with these dual pressures has been the creation of subbaccalaureate occupational credentialing programs (Holzer, 2015) . Composed of complementary certificates and associate’s degrees, these programs are designed to efficiently impart skills and competencies in high demand by local employers. With a more applied focus and with less seat time than 4-year degree programs, occupational credentialing programs provide an attractive alternative for students who struggle with traditional academic subjects and/or students who are balancing their coursework alongside work and family obligations. These programs may provide a manageable “on-ramp” to postsecondary education for disadvantaged populations. In addition, occupational credentialing programs may better meet the needs of employers, translating into improved labor market outcomes for students. Yet while many states have passed legislation to scale these programs (Wilson, 2016), little is known about how they operate within the volatile demands of local economies in which they are located, and how graduates of these programs eventually fare in the labor market. Our study contributes new knowledge to our understanding of the role that subbaccalaureate postsecondary education plays in providing students with the skills and training necessary to procure gainful employment. Specifically, we examine the emerging energy sector in Ohio as a case study. Home to the Utica and Marcellus shales, which are two of the largest reserves of oil and natural gas in the country, Ohio has experienced a dramatic increase in oil and natural gas extraction over the past decade. This expansion is partially due to the implementation of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) technology. Fracking involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals underground at high pressures to crack open rock layers and release oil and gas trapped inside. This process requires that workers have speciali

FAQs

What data source and study scope does the research use?

The study uses data from a mid-sized community college in northeast Ohio and focuses on petroleum technology credential programs and related labor-market outcomes.

How do changes in the oil and natural gas industry relate to enrollment in credential programs?

The study finds mixed effects: oil price increases are associated with declining program enrollment, while higher wages for petroleum workers are associated with increased enrollment.

What earnings returns are associated with obtaining a certificate or an associate’s degree?

Earning analyses are unambiguous: certificates and associate’s degrees correspond to outsized quarterly earnings returns of $2,900 and $5,500, respectively.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford