The role of noncognitive skills in the transition to the workforce for youth in Andhra Pradesh, India

Research based on youth in the United States and Europe has established the importance of noncognitive skills for successful transitions to adulthood. The influence of noncognitive skills may vary by social and economic contexts, though, and nine in ten youth live in developing countries where these concepts have not been rigorously examined. I examine the role noncognitive skills play in the transition to the workforce among youth in Andhra Pradesh, India. Using data from the Young Lives study, this paper examines whether positive self-concept and social skills in early adolescence (age 11-12) predict whether youth (age 18-19) are in school, work, both, or are not currently in education, employment, or training (NEET) using multinomial logistic regression. Findings suggest that self-concept predicts youth staying in school while social skills predicts youth entering work or being NEET. These skills are especially influential for young women and youth from high castes.Master of Art