Does working while studying affect education mismatch among youth? Evidence from Zambia

Purpose - This paper aims to study the relationship between working while studying in college/university and education mismatch among employed youth in the Zambian labour market. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses data from the 2014 School-to-Work Transition Survey and a multinomial logit model to examine three education-mismatch categories: undereducated, matched and overeducated. The paper also examines heterogeneities by education level and gender and uses empirical and subjective approaches of education mismatch. Findings - The evidence shows that employed youth who worked while studying have a higher likelihood of having well-matched jobs. The subgroup analysis by education level reveals no significant relationship between working while studying among employed youth with higher education (secondary and above). However, employed youth with lower education (primary and lower) are less likely to be mismatched for the job. The linkage between the education system and the labour market needs to be strengthened to support a smoother school-to-work transition for youth. Additional support to enable exposure to the right type of work during youth's college or university studies could increase job match and reduce labour market inefficiencies. Originality/value - The paper provides insights into a significant challenge faced by youth in developing countries, i.e. finding a suitable job for youth's level of education.