Non-Cognitive Skills and the Transition to Adulthood for Australian Youth

Ariel Kalil, University of Chicago
Wilawan Kanjanapan, Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Anastasia Sartbayeva, Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

The determinants of successful transitions to adulthood are complex and not fully explained by cognitive skills. This study examines locus of control, a key "non-cognitive skill," measuring the extent to which a person believes their actions affect their outcomes. We use longitudinal data from the Australian Youth in Focus survey to first investigate how family socio-economic status, welfare receipt, and volatility over the life course relate to level and change in locus of control. Second, we assess the extent to which locus of control predicts education and employment transitions and whether locus of control matters differently for advantaged versus disadvantaged youth. The results show that locus of control is shaped by parental influence, childhood experience and life events, but not family welfare receipt. There is some evidence that locus of control among young people has an influence on education and employment. However, this relationship occurs mainly for economically disadvantaged youth.