View in EDS

Does Vocational Education Foster Economic Development? Empirical Evidence from Structural and Quality Perspectives in China

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Does Vocational Education Foster Economic Development? Empirical Evidence from Structural and Quality Perspectives in China
Language: English
Authors: Lei Jiao, Rui Wu (ORCID 0000-0002-2408-8196), Jun Zhao
Source: Education & Training. 2026 68(4):544-564.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Career and Technical Education, Economic Development, Outcomes of Education, Educational Quality, Skilled Workers, Productivity, Human Capital, Efficiency, International Trade, Labor Force Development, Macroeconomics
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1108/ET-09-2025-0759
ISSN: 0040-0912
1758-6127
Abstract: Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of vocational education on economic development in China from the dual perspectives of structural alignment and educational quality. It seeks to determine whether and how vocational education contributes to regional economic growth. Design/methodology/approach: Using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces (2005-2021), this study employs fixed-effects and threshold regression models to examine how vocational education structure and quality affect economic development. Robustness tests and regional heterogeneity analysis are conducted to ensure validity. Findings: Both structural optimization and quality improvement in vocational education significantly promote economic development, with synergistic threshold effects between the two. Regional disparities exist, with stronger effects in eastern and central China. Results remain robust across alternative model specifications. Practical implications: Policymakers should emphasize not only the expansion of vocational education but also its structural integration with evolving economic needs and the enhancement of teaching quality. Tailored policies are recommended to address regional disparities, such as promoting industry-education collaboration in less developed areas. The evidence from China offers a valuable reference for other countries seeking to leverage vocational education for sustainable economic development. Originality/value: This research provides a comprehensive empirical analysis of vocational education's economic returns through simultaneously examining structural and qualitative dimensions -- a perspective largely underexplored in existing literature, particularly in the context of China. The use of subnational data and rigorous econometric strategies offers novel insights into how vocational education supports economic development under varying regional conditions.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505999
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1505999
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Does Vocational Education Foster Economic Development? Empirical Evidence from Structural and Quality Perspectives in China
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lei+Jiao%22">Lei Jiao</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rui+Wu%22">Rui Wu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2408-8196">0000-0002-2408-8196</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jun+Zhao%22">Jun Zhao</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Education+%26+Training%22"><i>Education & Training</i></searchLink>. 2026 68(4):544-564.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 21
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+and+Technical+Education%22">Career and Technical Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Development%22">Economic Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Quality%22">Educational Quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skilled+Workers%22">Skilled Workers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Productivity%22">Productivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Capital%22">Human Capital</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Efficiency%22">Efficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22International+Trade%22">International Trade</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Force+Development%22">Labor Force Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Macroeconomics%22">Macroeconomics</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/ET-09-2025-0759
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0040-0912<br />1758-6127
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of vocational education on economic development in China from the dual perspectives of structural alignment and educational quality. It seeks to determine whether and how vocational education contributes to regional economic growth. Design/methodology/approach: Using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces (2005-2021), this study employs fixed-effects and threshold regression models to examine how vocational education structure and quality affect economic development. Robustness tests and regional heterogeneity analysis are conducted to ensure validity. Findings: Both structural optimization and quality improvement in vocational education significantly promote economic development, with synergistic threshold effects between the two. Regional disparities exist, with stronger effects in eastern and central China. Results remain robust across alternative model specifications. Practical implications: Policymakers should emphasize not only the expansion of vocational education but also its structural integration with evolving economic needs and the enhancement of teaching quality. Tailored policies are recommended to address regional disparities, such as promoting industry-education collaboration in less developed areas. The evidence from China offers a valuable reference for other countries seeking to leverage vocational education for sustainable economic development. Originality/value: This research provides a comprehensive empirical analysis of vocational education's economic returns through simultaneously examining structural and qualitative dimensions -- a perspective largely underexplored in existing literature, particularly in the context of China. The use of subnational data and rigorous econometric strategies offers novel insights into how vocational education supports economic development under varying regional conditions.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1505999
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1505999
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/ET-09-2025-0759
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 544
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Quality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skilled Workers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Productivity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human Capital
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Efficiency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: International Trade
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Macroeconomics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Does Vocational Education Foster Economic Development? Empirical Evidence from Structural and Quality Perspectives in China
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lei Jiao
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rui Wu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jun Zhao
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0040-0912
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1758-6127
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 68
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Education & Training
              Type: main
ResultId 1