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The impact of overeducation and its measurement

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  • D. VERHAEST
  • E. OMEY

Abstract

The central focus of this article is the influence of over- and undereducation on job satisfaction, mobility, training participation and wages when four alternative mismatch measures are used. The sign, magnitude and significance of the effects largely diverge between these measures. When attained education is controlled for, overeducated workers are less satisfied, more mobile, participate less in training and earn less than adequately educated workers. With respect to undereducation, we have no clear results. When years of required education are controlled for, no robust results are found for job satisfaction and mobility. Overeducated workers earn more than adequately educated colleagues, but have similar training opportunities. None of the measures clearly outperforms the alternatives for the explanation of all variables of interest.

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  • D. Verhaest & E. Omey, 2004. "The impact of overeducation and its measurement," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 04/215, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    • Handle: RePEc:rug:rugwps:04/215
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