IS HIGH-SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT CONSUMPTION OR INVESTMENT

This study examines how high school employment affects future economic attainment. There is no indication that light to moderate job commitm ents ever have a detrimental effect; instead, hours worked during the senior grade are positively correlated with future earnings, fringe be nefits, and occupational status. These gains occur even though employe d seniors attain slightly less education than their counterparts. The results are robust across a variety of specifications and suggest that student employment increases net investments in human capital particu larly toward the end of high school and for females.