Proceedings of the International Conference on Policies, Processes and Practices for transforming Underdeveloped Economies into Developed Economies (PPP-UD 2025)

<Previous Article In Volume
Next Article In Volume>

Socio-Economic Determinants of Higher Education Access and Employment Outcomes: Evidence from Bhandara District, Maharashtra

Authors
Dhiraj Kadam1, *, Bhedraj B. Dhawale2
1Department of Economics, P.G.T.D. of Economics (Auto), R.T.M. Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
2Department of Economics, Late Nirdhanrao Patil Waghaye Arts and Science College, Murmadi (Tup) Taluka- Lakhani, Dist., Bhandara, Maharashtra, India
*Corresponding author. Email: dhiraj.kadam@gmail.com
Corresponding Author
Dhiraj Kadam
Available Online 10 November 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-894-3_15How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Higher education access; employment outcomes; socio-economic status; Bhandara district
Abstract

Higher education plays a pivotal role in fostering human capital and driving sustainable, inclusive national development. Among the various determinants of higher education access, socio-economic status (SES) remains one of the most critical, influencing students’ field of study selection and subsequent employment outcomes. This study examines the impact of SES on higher education access, academic discipline choice, and employment opportunities among students in Bhandara district, Maharashtra. A stratified random sample of 397 students from rural and urban areas across multiple disciplines was surveyed. Data on socio-economic status were collected using the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Scale (2022), while information on educational access was gathered through a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between parental education and students’ choice of academic discipline, with caste background and family income exerting measurable influence. Gender differences in discipline choice were not statistically significant, indicating a gradual decline in traditional gender-based educational perceptions. The findings confirm that students’ SES substantially affects their academic trajectories and employment prospects. The study recommends inclusive, equity-oriented policies that account for socio-economic disparities to enhance both educational and employment outcomes in the region.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

<Previous Article In Volume
Next Article In Volume>
Volume Title
Proceedings of the International Conference on Policies, Processes and Practices for transforming Underdeveloped Economies into Developed Economies (PPP-UD 2025)
Series
Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research
Publication Date
10 November 2025
ISBN
978-94-6463-894-3
ISSN
2352-5428
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-894-3_15How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Dhiraj Kadam
AU  - Bhedraj B. Dhawale
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/11/10
TI  - Socio-Economic Determinants of Higher Education Access and Employment Outcomes: Evidence from Bhandara District, Maharashtra
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Policies, Processes and Practices for transforming Underdeveloped Economies into Developed Economies (PPP-UD 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 211
EP  - 224
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-894-3_15
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-894-3_15
ID  - Kadam2025
ER  -