Kevin Stange
University of Michigan

The skill content of college majors: 
Evidence from the universe of online job ads


Abstract:
The choice of college major is one of the most direct ways through which college-educated workers develop skills. In this paper we document the skill content of college majors as
perceived by employers and expressed in the near universe of online job ads. Some general skills - such as social and people management skills - are sought by employers of almost all college majors. More specific skills such as customer service and “character” are associated with a relatively fewer number of majors. Majors that provide these specialized skills - such as nursing and education - are thus more specialized than those that mostly provide general skills. The skills-major linkage varies across the country, with high-wage MSAs demanding more of most
types of skills in generalist majors such as business. However, within-major cross-area variation in skill content has only a weak association with major-specific earnings across geographic areas.


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