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Field-of-study mismatch and overqualification: labour market correlates and their wage penalty

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  • Guillermo Montt

    (International Labour Office)

Abstract

Field-of-study mismatch occurs when a worker, trained in a particular field, works in another field. This study draws on the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) to explore how skill supply and labour market demand dynamics influence mismatch. It updates cross-national estimates on mismatch and estimates the mismatch wage penalty. Findings suggest that around 40% of workers are mismatched by field at their qualification level, 11% overqualified in their field and 13% overqualified and working outside their field. The saturation of the field in the labour market and the transferability of the fields’ skills predict the incidence of field-of-study mismatch and overqualification. Workers who are mismatched by field only suffer a wage penalty if they are overqualified.

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  • Guillermo Montt, 2017. "Field-of-study mismatch and overqualification: labour market correlates and their wage penalty," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izalbr:v:6:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1186_s40172-016-0052-x
    DOI: 10.1186/s40172-016-0052-x
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    13. 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.
    14. Light, Audrey & Wertz, Sydney Schreiner, 2022. "Should English majors take computer science courses? Labor market benefits of the occupational specificity of major and nonmajor college credits," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
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    17. Cristian Darío Castillo Robayo & Javier García Estévez, 2019. "Desempleo juvenil en Colombia: ¿la educación importa?," Revista Finanzas y Politica Economica, Universidad Católica de Colombia, vol. 11(1), pages 101-101, February.
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    19. Fernando Rios-Avila & Fabiola Saavedra Caballero, 2019. "It Pays to Study for the Right Job: Exploring the Causes and Consequences of Education-Occupation Job Mismatch," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_922, Levy Economics Institute.
    20. 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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    22. Mariia Vasiakina & Silvana Robone, 2018. "Education-job mismatch as a determinant of health: evidence from the Russian Federation," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 72(4), pages 101-111, October-D.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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