The Human Capital Accumulation at Research Infrastructures: Reexamining Wage Returns to Training, Models, Interpretation, and Magnitude

TL;DR

This study measures the wage returns of research training for early career researchers at CERN, finding a 7% average increase driven by skill development, with implications for research infrastructure policies.

Contribution

It introduces a new economic model-based strategy to accurately measure wage returns to research training at research infrastructures, improving upon prior studies in scope and relevance.

Findings

CERN research training increases wages by 7% on average.

Wage gains occur early, within the first decade of employment.

Returns are driven by hard and soft skills, reflecting productivity improvements.

Abstract

We design a research strategy to measure wage returns of research training targeting early career researchers (ECRs) at research infrastructures (RIs). Grounded in established economic models of education and training, our strategy improves upon existing studies on the same topic in labour market relevance, scope, and economic modelling. We draw on a survey of ECRs at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and find that CERN research training increases ECRs wages by 7 per cent on average, ranging from 2 to 10 per cent. Wage gains materialise early in their careers, typically within the first decade of employment. Wage returns are driven by hard skills, such as software development, data analysis, and problem solving capacity, as well as sought after soft skills, such as communication, leadership, and networking. Our findings suggest that ECRs wage returns primarily reflect productivity improvements rather than the signalling effect of CERN affiliation. Our research applies to other RIs. We conclude by discussing methodological considerations, policy implications, and avenues for future research.