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Overeducation in Europe: trends, convergence, and drivers

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  • Seamus McGuinness
  • Adele Bergin
  • Adele Whelan

Abstract

Overeducation describes the situation whereby workers are located in jobs for which they are deemed overqualified. This paper examines patterns in overeducation between countries using a specifically designed panel data set constructed from the quarterly Labour Force Surveys of 28 EU countries over a 12- to 15-year period. It is not the case that overeducation has been rising rapidly over time in all countries, and where overeducation has grown, the trend has been very gradual. Furthermore, overeducation rates were found to be static or falling in approximately 50% of the 28 EU countries. The evidence points towards convergence in overeducation at a rate of 3.3% per annum. In terms of the determinants of overeducation we find evidence to support policies aimed at improving effective female participation, labour market flexibility and the practical aspects of educational provision as a means of reducing the incidence of overeducation within countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Seamus McGuinness & Adele Bergin & Adele Whelan, 2018. "Overeducation in Europe: trends, convergence, and drivers," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 70(4), pages 994-1015.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:70:y:2018:i:4:p:994-1015.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Alfano, Vincenzo & D'Uva, Marcella & De Simone, Elina & Gaeta, Giuseppe Lucio, 2019. "Should I stay or should I go? Migration and job-skills mismatch among Italian doctoral recipients," GLO Discussion Paper Series 340, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Castro, Juan Francisco & Ortega, Lorena & Yamada, Gustavo & Mata, David, 2022. "The Magnitude and Predictors of Overeducation and Overskilling in Latin America: Evidence from PIAAC," IZA Discussion Papers 15143, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Esperanza Vera-Toscano & Elena C. Meroni, 2021. "An Age–Period–Cohort Approach to the Incidence and Evolution of Overeducation and Skills Mismatch," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 711-740, January.
    6. David Boto-García & Marta Escalonilla, 2022. "University education, mismatched jobs: are there gender differences in the drivers of overeducation?," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(3), pages 861-902, October.
    7. Ahmet Alper Ege & Erkan Erdil, 2023. "Determinants of overlapping mismatch in the Turkish labour market," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 57(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Budría, Santiago & Martínez de Ibarreta, Carlos, 2020. "Educational and Skills Mismatches among Immigrants: The Impact of Host Language Proficiency," IZA Discussion Papers 13030, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Paulina Broniatowska, 2021. "Wage Effects of Overeducation: Evidence from Poland," Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, vol. 13(1), pages 25-53, March.
    10. Xin Zhao & Yishuo Jiao & Dan Wu, 2022. "The impact of Internet use on labor wage distortions: Empirical Evidence From China," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    11. Marta Palczyńska, 2021. "Overeducation and wages: the role of cognitive skills and personality traits," Baltic Journal of Economics, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies, vol. 21(1), pages 85-111.
    12. Budría, Santiago & Martínez-de-Ibarreta, Carlos, 2021. "Education and skill mismatches among immigrants: The impact of host language proficiency," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    13. McQuinn, Kieran & O'Toole, Conor & Economides, Philip & Monteiro, Teresa, 2017. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Winter 2017," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC20174, June.
    14. Yih‐chyi Chuang & Chia‐Yu Liang, 2022. "Overeducation and skill mismatch of university graduates in Taiwan," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 1693-1712, August.
    15. Irene Brunetti & Valerio Intraligi & Andrea Ricci & Valeria Cirillo, 2020. "Low‐skill jobs and routine tasks specialization: New insights from Italian provinces," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(6), pages 1561-1581, December.
    16. Christiana Charalambidou & Steven McIntosh, 2021. "Over‐education in Cyprus: Micro and macro determinants, persistence and state dependence. A dynamic panel analysis," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 89(2), pages 172-189, March.
    17. Queralt Capsada-Munsech, 2019. "Measuring Overeducation: Incidence, Correlation and Overlaps Across Indicators and Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 279-301, August.
    18. Daniela Federici & Valentino Parisi & Francesco Ferrante, 2023. "Aspiration bias and job satisfaction of young Italian graduates," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(2), pages 643-677, July.
    19. Muñoz de Bustillo, Rafael & Sarkar, Sudipa & Sebastián, Raquel & Antón, José-Ignacio, 2018. "Education mismatch in Europe at the turn of the century: Measurement, intensity and evolution," MPRA Paper 85779, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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