Graduates' personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates

In this study, we explore the value of personality characteristics in explaining success in labor market entry with a sample of graduates in economics from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Specifically, the paper addresses the following twofold research question: does personality explain labor market outcomes, and how much weight does this 'generic' factor have compared to traditional human capital and individual preference variables such as study results, study field and demographic characteristics? Personality is measured both by separate indicators for traits as well as by the so-called 'profiles', based on combinations of these indicators. The results show that both measurement methods reveal significant personality effects, which are independent from the effects of traditional human capital variables, such as grade point averages in the academic program, and work experience. A key finding is that both types of factors have their own and independent effect on labor market outcomes.