PhD Defence Maria Henriëtte Bogaard

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Air quality, Education, Labour market

"Students and Job Seekers under Environmental Stressors: Insights from a Pandemic & Air Quality Variations"

This thesis examines the impact of environmental stressors— COVID-19 and air quality —on education and labour market performance, by focussing on two vulnerable groups: students and the unemployed, for whom evidence remains limited. The research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had an enduring negative impact on the study performance of university students. Moreover, it reveals that air quality impacts the job search process and outcomes of the unemployed. By demonstrating how environmental stressors shape individual performance, this research underscores the need to better understand and address these challenges. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers, highlighting the importance of mitigating the adverse effects of environmental stressors on the current and future workforce. 

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