Salary Acceptability and Substitution Factors for Graduates’ Employment

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to understand the extent to which salary is negotiable for graduates when they search for a job after graduation. To this end, we created an experimental survey designed to identify their salary expectations. Graduates from an Italian university were randomized into four salary levels and asked about their willingness to accept a job with a predefined salary level. Moreover, in order to highlight the job aspects that could substitute salary considerations at the decision-making stage, we contrasted a hypothetical salary reduction with nine non-monetary aspects. In addition, the salary level associated with graduates’ ideal job was explored. The data analysis showed that a new graduate hesitates if presented with a job offer implying a trade-off between career prospects, work roles, and contractual advantages on the one hand, and salary on the other hand. Moreover, salary expectations differ according to gender, educational pathways, and other social and attitudinal variables.

Download
Fabbris L., Scioni M. (2018) "Salary Acceptability and Substitution Factors for Graduates’ Employment " Italian Journal of Sociology of Education, 10(3), 220-244. DOI: 10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2018-3-11  
Year of Publication
2018
Journal
Italian Journal of Sociology of Education
Volume
10
Issue Number
3
Start Page
220
Last Page
244
Date Published
11/2018
ISSN Number
2035-4983
Serial Article Number
11
DOI
10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2018-3-11
Issue
Section
Articles