Math is easier if you are smarter. As such, math education is a costly and therefore credible signal of general intelligence. Below are two experiments that try to get around this selection issue by looking at exogenous variation in worker mathematical ability on labor market outcomes. However, a word of caution. They do not present evidence that mathematical education makes you more productive. Even if all mathematical education is is a signal of intelligence, it can be valuable to individual workers to get more mathematical education, and they will on average benefit from interventions that lower the cost of getting a mathematical education
We examine the link between math skills and labor-market outcomes
using a resume-based field experiment. Specifically, we send
fictitious resumes in response to online job postings, randomly
assigning some resumes to indicate stronger math skills, and measure
employer responses. The resumes that are randomly assigned to indicate
stronger math skills receive more interest from employers than the
comparison resumes. Our findings add to the body of evidence showing
that stronger math skills positively affect labor-market outcomes.
Math skills and labor-market outcomes: Evidence from a resume-based field experiment by Koedel and Tyhurst (2012)
Outsourcing of jobs to low-wage countries has increased the
focus on the accumulation of skills – such as Math skills – in
high-wage count ries. In this paper, we exploit a high school pilot
scheme to identify the causal effect of advanced high school
Math on labor market outcomes. The pilot scheme reduced the
costs of choosing advanced Math because it allowed for at more
flexible combination of Math with other courses. We find clear
evidence of a causal relationship between Math and earnings
for the students who are induced to choose Math after being
exposed to the pilot scheme. The effect partly stems from
the fact that these students end up with higher education.
Is there a causal effect of high school math on labor market outcomes? by
Joensen and Nielsen (2009)