The Unequal (Mis)Match: Education Field Specificity and Disparities in School-to-Work Linkages

• In Event: Broken Links in the Pathway from School to Career

Abstract

Gender and racial wage disparities persist among college-educated workers, partly due to unequal school-to-work linkages. This study investigates horizontal (mis)match between education and occupation, focusing on the role of educational field specificity. Using nationally representative data on over 300,000 U.S. college graduates and data-driven measures of horizontal match and education specificity, we find that women and non-White groups are less likely to work in jobs aligned with their field of study, despite women overall exhibiting higher levels of educational specialization. Analyses also reveal intersectional patterns, as non-White women tend to have lower levels of specialization than White women, and Black workers experience weaker returns to specialization in securing matched jobs. Findings point to structural barriers that constrain equitable school-to-work transitions.

Authors

• Ran Liu, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Thao Pham, University of Wisconsin - Madison