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The Interplay between Education, Skills, and Job Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Alexandra Wicht

    (GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany)

  • Nora Müller

    (GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany)

  • Simone Haasler

    (GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany)

  • Alexandra Nonnenmacher

    (Department of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Siegen, Germany)

Abstract

Compared to general education, vocational education and training (VET) has been shown to facilitate young people’s integration into the labour market. At the same time, research suggests that VET falls short in teaching basic skills and, in turn, may lead to less adaptability to labour market changes and long-term disadvantages in individual labour market outcomes. To better understand the relationships between education, skills, and labour market outcomes, we examine to what extent job quality differs between individuals with general education and those with VET with respect to different skill levels. Furthermore, we investigate whether the relationship between type of qualification and job quality differs by skills. We broaden past research by considering four indicators of job quality: earnings, job security, job autonomy, and the match between respondents’ abilities and job demands. Using data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies for Germany, we demonstrate that individuals with academic education and advanced VET score higher in job quality concerning earnings and job autonomy as compared to individuals with initial VET. Comparing the two higher qualified groups, academic education is more associated with higher earnings than advanced VET, while the level of job autonomy is similar. Regarding the abilities-demands match, both groups score lower than individuals with initial VET. Moreover, higher literacy skills are associated with higher levels of job quality irrespective of the type and level of formal qualification. Finally, we find no empirical evidence that skills compensate for or reinforce disadvantages in job quality derived from professional qualifications.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexandra Wicht & Nora Müller & Simone Haasler & Alexandra Nonnenmacher, 2019. "The Interplay between Education, Skills, and Job Quality," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 254-269.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:socinc:v7:y:2019:i:3:p:254-269
    DOI: 10.17645/si.v7i3.2052
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:bla:econom:v:71:y:2004:i:281:p:275-297 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Nancy Kracke & Malte Reichelt & Basha Vicari, 2018. "Wage Losses Due to Overqualification: The Role of Formal Degrees and Occupational Skills," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 1085-1108, October.
    3. Heisig, Jan Paul & Solga, Heike, 2015. "Secondary Education Systems and the General Skills of Less- and Intermediate-educated Adults: A Comparison of 18 Countries," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 88(3), pages 202-225.
    4. Michael Spence, 1973. "Job Market Signaling," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 87(3), pages 355-374.
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    Cited by:

    1. Irene Kriesi & Juerg Schweri, 2019. "Types of Education, Achievement and Labour Market Integration over the Life Course," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 58-64.

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