<p>Recent studies claims that Sweden has the lowest returns on education compared to other OECD countries. Other research made in the subject tend to focus on the gains from education, but forget to calculate the costs, both direct cost such as material, accommodation and food, but also opportunity costs from not working instead of investing in education.</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to study if an investment in an education is an effective way of monetary utility maximizing in Sweden, in other words income. This thesis will investigate whether education will be a profitable investment, and if so how many years of employment it will take an individual to gain from that investment.</p><p>The Human Capital theory is the theoretical framework of this thesis and the result is in Swedish Crowns. This research quantifies that an education is an effective way to income maximizing and men’s payback time in monetary terms are more likely to be shorter than female’s.</p>

Master of Science / Department of Communications and Agricultural Education / Shannon G. Washburn / STEM fields represent between 5% and 20% of all employed in the United States (United States Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Many employers of job positions in the STEM field have indicated an ongoing challenge of demand for such employees exceeding supply (Hira, 2010). Literature suggests a skills gap exists in some career fields and labor markets (Sentz, 2013). A topic that falls in many STEM fields in water resources. In Kansas, both supply and demand of water resources vary greatly across the state. A growing trend statewide, however, is a need to focus efforts on preserving the quality and quantity of Kansas’ water supply. Anecdotal evidence suggests the focus on water resources increases the demand for employees prepared for careers in related STEM fields (S. Metzger, personal communication, May 3, 2016). Drawing on both the Human Capital Theory and the Theory of Work Adjustment, descriptive survey research and qualitative interviews based in symbolic interactionism were used to gather data from employers of water-related job positions. The data indicated that a variety of employability and technical skills describe both employers’ ability requirements and employees’ ability sets. The results of the study suggest that, while employers have not recently experienced much challenge filling job vacancies, demand for employees could increase in the near future. Additionally, employers utilize a variety of professional development resources, and would utilize others if available. While levels of correspondence range among ability requirements and ability sets depending on the job position, efforts in education and recruitment could help address the supply of candidates for these positions.

The dominant human capital theory-based perspective that education is crucial for economic success and employment has affected national and regional policies in education and employment worldwide. The present thesis critically assesses the target for increased number of tertiary education graduates in the current EU agenda for growth and employment (Europe 2020 Strategy). This target presumes that employment is positively related with tertiary education qualifications, and that there is an increasing demand for highly educated workers in the EU labour markets. Based on Eurostat data, our findings indicate that (i) more public spending on tertiary education does not seem to be associated with higher employment rates of graduates in the EU countries; (ii) in more than half of the EU28 member states, unemployment rates are not related with increased number of graduates; (iii) in most of the remaining EU countries, the increase in graduates is associated with higher graduates’ unemployment rates; (iv) increased number of tertiary education graduates relates with higher overqualification rates in the majority of the EU countries. These results accord with previous studies which find that investment in education alone is inadequate to explain complex socio-economic phenomena, such as graduates’ employment/unemployment. Moreover, they further support previous research works, which question the proclaimed increased need for highly educated workers in the EU labour markets. This, in turn, suggests that common European policies which target at increasing horizontally the number of graduates may further deteriorate the existing problem of overqualification in the EU. Without downplaying the importance of education and skills in employment, the current thesis contemplates that the disproportionate emphasis on the role of tertiary education in employment may falsely cultivate the perception that education per se can be the main solution for unemployment. Thus, it is likely to conceal the wider socio-economic reasons that influence a person’s ability to find, secure and advance in his/her job. Last, but not least, this perspective narrows down the role of tertiary education confining it to economic and employment purposes.

The inability of business owners to hire skilled employees affects the profitability of a small business. Small business owners may attain profitability by understanding the value of military veterans and cultivating strategies for the hiring and recruitment process. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that business owners in Fayetteville, North Carolina used to recruit military veterans as a means to acquire skilled employees to maximize productivity, profitability, and sustainability. The conceptual framework of this study included human capital theory and recruitment theory. The purposive sample consisted of 6 participants who were small business owners. Data from interviews and supporting documents were processed and analyzed using data source triangulation to identify 3 emergent themes. Findings indicated that, for these 6 Fayetteville small business owners, job description and transition workshops, resume review and communication, and accommodations and benefits were key attributes related to the successful recruitment of military veterans as skilled employees. Specifically, streamlined hiring processes, relationship building, and access to resources were predictive of a successful hire. Knowledge barriers regarding hiring processes prevented efficient communication between small business owners and military veterans, but business owners cultivated strategies to help with hiring military veterans. The implications for positive social change include the potential for business owners to capitalize on the skills that military veterans bring to the civilian workforce, which in turn may improve the economy.

Recent studies claims that Sweden has the lowest returns on education compared to other OECD countries. Other research made in the subject tend to focus on the gains from education, but forget to calculate the costs, both direct cost such as material, accommodation and food, but also opportunity costs from not working instead of investing in education. The purpose of this thesis is to study if an investment in an education is an effective way of monetary utility maximizing in Sweden, in other words income. This thesis will investigate whether education will be a profitable investment, and if so how many years of employment it will take an individual to gain from that investment. The Human Capital theory is the theoretical framework of this thesis and the result is in Swedish Crowns. This research quantifies that an education is an effective way to income maximizing and men’s payback time in monetary terms are more likely to be shorter than female’s.

Regardless of whether organizations are in the private sector or in the public sector, there is a general agreement that human resources are critical to keeping organizations effective as well as maintaining a high level of organizational performance. While more serious effort has been made to empirically examine how human resources influence organizational performance (e.g., studies about turnover consequences, studies about the relationship between human resource management practices and organizational performance) in the private sector, it is rare to find similar empirical studies in the public sector partly because it is hard to define public organizational performance. In my dissertation, I basically investigate how human resources are critical to organizational performance in the public sector with a question, "Do human resources really matter in the public sector, too?" Focusing on the crime control performance of municipal police departments, I examine the relationships among turnover, police performance, and human resource management (HRM) characteristics by surveying police departments of the U.S. cities whose population range is between 100,000 to 500,000 (Out of 205 surveyed cities, 65 cities participated). Firstly, I explore how human resource management practices (individually and systematically) influence crime control performance of the police. Based on universalistic HRM perspective (i.e., best HRM practices) and control theory perspective, I hypothesize that commitment HRM system (and individual practices) will have positive effect on crime control performance of the police. Secondly, I investigate more specific questions such as if turnover has significant effect on crime control performance and if HRM system has moderating effect on turnover consequence. Results about turnover effect confirm human capital theory that predicts the negative effect of turnover when employees with specific knowledge quit. However, no significant relationships are found between commitment HRM system (and individual practices) and organizational performance. The results might help municipal police departments deal with sworn officers' turnover as well as set up proper HRM practices.

A presente dissertação trata de um estudo exploratório que visa identificar os principais fatores que levam os estudantes a decidirem sobre um curso de nível superior (3º grau). A amostra foi composta dentre quatro Instituições de Ensino Superior da cidade de Caxias do Sul/RS e totalizou 655 estudantes regularmente matriculados e de ambos os sexos, focando, preferencialmente, alunos do 1º ou do 2º semestre de seus cursos. As questões empregadas visaram identificar conclusões para o tema central da pesquisa – o processo de escolha de um curso de graduação. O instrumental teórico baseia-se na Teoria do Capital Humano e na Teoria da Sinalização. Os resultados revelaram que os fatores que determinam as escolhas são: a realização pessoal, aptidão ou vocação para o curso pretendido; as oportunidades no mercado de trabalho; a qualidade e o prestígio da Instituição e a possibilidade de ascensão financeira. Identificou-se também que a maioria dos estudantes escolheu o curso no último ano do ensino médio e às vésperas do vestibular e, além disso, eles têm certeza de que fizeram a escolha certa. / The present dissertation deals with an exploratory study that aims to identify the main factors that take the students to decide on a course of a college. The sample was chosen among four institutions from the city of Caxias do Sul/RS and totalized 655 students regularly registered and of both genders, focusing, preferentially, on students that were attending the 1st or 2nd semester of their courses. The employed questions were directed to identify conclusions to the central subject of the research – the process of choice of a graduation course. The theoretical instrument is based on the Human Capital Theory and the Signaling Theory. The results revealed that the factors that determine the choices are: the personal realization, aptitude or vocation for the intended course; the job opportunities; the prestige of the institution and the income perspectives. There was also identified that the major part of the students has chosen the course in the last year of the high school and very close to the vestibular and, furthermore, they are sure that they have made the right choice.

A presente dissertação trata de um estudo exploratório que visa identificar os principais fatores que levam os estudantes a decidirem sobre um curso de nível superior (3º grau). A amostra foi composta dentre quatro Instituições de Ensino Superior da cidade de Caxias do Sul/RS e totalizou 655 estudantes regularmente matriculados e de ambos os sexos, focando, preferencialmente, alunos do 1º ou do 2º semestre de seus cursos. As questões empregadas visaram identificar conclusões para o tema central da pesquisa – o processo de escolha de um curso de graduação. O instrumental teórico baseia-se na Teoria do Capital Humano e na Teoria da Sinalização. Os resultados revelaram que os fatores que determinam as escolhas são: a realização pessoal, aptidão ou vocação para o curso pretendido; as oportunidades no mercado de trabalho; a qualidade e o prestígio da Instituição e a possibilidade de ascensão financeira. Identificou-se também que a maioria dos estudantes escolheu o curso no último ano do ensino médio e às vésperas do vestibular e, além disso, eles têm certeza de que fizeram a escolha certa. / The present dissertation deals with an exploratory study that aims to identify the main factors that take the students to decide on a course of a college. The sample was chosen among four institutions from the city of Caxias do Sul/RS and totalized 655 students regularly registered and of both genders, focusing, preferentially, on students that were attending the 1st or 2nd semester of their courses. The employed questions were directed to identify conclusions to the central subject of the research – the process of choice of a graduation course. The theoretical instrument is based on the Human Capital Theory and the Signaling Theory. The results revealed that the factors that determine the choices are: the personal realization, aptitude or vocation for the intended course; the job opportunities; the prestige of the institution and the income perspectives. There was also identified that the major part of the students has chosen the course in the last year of the high school and very close to the vestibular and, furthermore, they are sure that they have made the right choice.

nÃo hà / Historically, we can verify the educational duality in which we have a formation oriented to the ruling Ãlite and another one oriented to the workers who act in the capitalist production process. However, the expansion of the capitalism in the last four decades, we identify, as Karl Marx had already previewed, the intensification of the substitution of the living work (the human being) for the dead work (machines), causing crisis, because the market doesnât absorb so many workers in the production process. Therefore, the unemployment, is a reality that scares even the international organizations, like the United Nations (UN). In this context, the employability, in a world without jobs and the human capital theory emerge as new forms of social domination, internalizing in the individual the idea that he is the responsible for his precarious economic situation. In this regard, in this research we analyzed the formation of workers released by Centro Vocacional TecnolÃgico (CVT) â Technologic Vocational Center â through means of initial formation courses or professional qualification in the community of Umarizeiras, in Maranguape, town in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza, pointing contradictions imposed by the contemporary capitalism which limit that performance. The investigation took place with oral sources, through interviews with thirteen dwellers; and documents: booklets of the courses available by CVT and Estatuto da AssociaÃÃo de Moradores de Umazeira, which let us highlight the contradictions between the official speech and the reality lived by the subjects involved in that formation. The available courses by CVT to that community were fruit pulp process, chicken raising, E.V.A., computing, fruit sweets. All the interviewed subjects had already participated in one or more courses, motivated by the immediate objective of getting a job, fact that doesnÂt really happen; about the knowledge acquired in the courses, itâs rare to find someone who uses it in the daily life. We conclude, therefore, that the offer of the courses achieves rather an ideological objective, targeting to blame the individuals for their economic situation than a whole formation of the human being, having work as the educational principle. / Historicamente, verificamos a dualidade educacional em que temos uma formaÃÃo voltada para as elites dirigentes e outra para os trabalhadores que atuam no processo de produÃÃo capitalista. No entanto, na expansÃo do capitalismo nas Ãltimas quatro dÃcadas, identificamos, assim como jà tinha antecipado Karl Marx, a intensificaÃÃo da substituiÃÃo do trabalho vivo (o ser humano) pelo trabalho morto (as mÃquinas), ocasionando uma crise, pois o mercado jà nÃo absorve tantos trabalhadores no processo produtivo. O desemprego, portanto, à uma realidade que assusta atà mesmo os organismos internacionais, como a OrganizaÃÃo das NaÃÃes Unidas (ONU). Neste contexto, a empregabilidade, em um mundo sem emprego, e a teoria do capital humano surgem como novas formas de dominaÃÃo social, internalizando no indivÃduo a ideia de que à ele o responsÃvel por sua situaÃÃo econÃmica precÃria. Neste sentido, analisamos nesta pesquisa a formaÃÃo de trabalhadores desencadeada pelo Centro Vocacional TecnolÃgico (CVT), por meio de cursos de formaÃÃo inicial ou qualificaÃÃo profissional na comunidade de Umarizeiras, distrito de Maranguape, municÃpio da RegiÃo Metropolitana de Fortaleza (RMF), apontando as contradiÃÃes impostas pelo capitalismo contemporÃneo, que limitam aquela atuaÃÃo. A investigaÃÃo foi realizada a partir da articulaÃÃo de fontes orais, atravÃs de entrevistas com 13 (treze) moradores; e documentais: apostilas dos cursos disponibilizadas pelo CVT e o Estatuto da AssociaÃÃo de Moradores de Umarizeiras, o que nos permitiu colocar em evidÃncia as contradiÃÃes entre o discurso oficial e a realidade vivenciada pelos sujeitos envolvidos naquela formaÃÃo. Os cursos ofertados pelo CVT Ãquela comunidade foram: processamento de polpas, criaÃÃo de galinha caipira, E.V.A., informÃtica, doces de frutas e associativismo. A maioria dos entrevistados jà havia participado de um ou mais cursos, motivados pelo objetivo imediato da conquista de um emprego, fato que constatamos nÃo se realizar; sobre os conhecimentos adquiridos nos cursos, raros sÃo os que afirmam utilizarem em seu cotidiano. Conclui-se, portanto, que a oferta dos cursos cumpre mais um objetivo ideolÃgico com a funÃÃo de culpar o indivÃduo pela sua situaÃÃo econÃmica do que uma formaÃÃo integral de ser humano, tendo o trabalho como princÃpio educativo.

A presente dissertação trata de um estudo exploratório que visa identificar os principais fatores que levam os estudantes a decidirem sobre um curso de nível superior (3º grau). A amostra foi composta dentre quatro Instituições de Ensino Superior da cidade de Caxias do Sul/RS e totalizou 655 estudantes regularmente matriculados e de ambos os sexos, focando, preferencialmente, alunos do 1º ou do 2º semestre de seus cursos. As questões empregadas visaram identificar conclusões para o tema central da pesquisa – o processo de escolha de um curso de graduação. O instrumental teórico baseia-se na Teoria do Capital Humano e na Teoria da Sinalização. Os resultados revelaram que os fatores que determinam as escolhas são: a realização pessoal, aptidão ou vocação para o curso pretendido; as oportunidades no mercado de trabalho; a qualidade e o prestígio da Instituição e a possibilidade de ascensão financeira. Identificou-se também que a maioria dos estudantes escolheu o curso no último ano do ensino médio e às vésperas do vestibular e, além disso, eles têm certeza de que fizeram a escolha certa. / The present dissertation deals with an exploratory study that aims to identify the main factors that take the students to decide on a course of a college. The sample was chosen among four institutions from the city of Caxias do Sul/RS and totalized 655 students regularly registered and of both genders, focusing, preferentially, on students that were attending the 1st or 2nd semester of their courses. The employed questions were directed to identify conclusions to the central subject of the research – the process of choice of a graduation course. The theoretical instrument is based on the Human Capital Theory and the Signaling Theory. The results revealed that the factors that determine the choices are: the personal realization, aptitude or vocation for the intended course; the job opportunities; the prestige of the institution and the income perspectives. There was also identified that the major part of the students has chosen the course in the last year of the high school and very close to the vestibular and, furthermore, they are sure that they have made the right choice.