Economic and Noneconomic Outcomes for GED[R] Credential Recipients. GED Testing Service[R] Research Studies, 2008-2. Executive Summary

The General Educational Development (GED) Tests are widely used to certify a high school level of academic knowledge and skills. The popularity and profound influence of the GED Tests have elicited numerous studies on the outcomes of obtaining a GED credential. Most studies on labor market outcomes for GED credential recipients have targeted specific groups for comparisons across age, gender, or geographic areas. Depending on the samples used and the research methodologies applied, these studies have yielded mixed results. Furthermore, scholars have noticed a scarcity of research on the noneconomic outcomes of GED credential recipients, such as their social and political participation, health, and parenting skills. This study provides evidence, through a recently released nationally representative sample of adults, the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), on the economic outcomes as well as the noneconomic outcomes for GED credential recipients. Among economic outcomes, this study examines labor force participation, work history, weekly wage, and personal income. Among noneconomic outcomes, this study looks into political and social participation, family literacy, and health. [For the full report, see ED510064.]