Skill Mismatch and Work-life Conflict: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction

• In Event: 381 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 09. Work and Family: Session I

Abstract

Many studies covering a variety of countries with different economic and educational systems revealed the adverse labor market outcomes of educational and skill mismatches such as lower wages, lower job satisfaction, and higher turnover intentions. The literature also suggests that mismatches are likely to affect individuals’ and firms’ productivity constraining the economic growth. Recently, the recognition has been growing that education and skill mismatches appear to capture different aspects of the job-worker pairing that may have separate labor market outcomes. This study explores the consequence of discrepancy between worker’s skills and job requirements for work-family life and various dimensions of job satisfaction, focusing on the mediating role of the job satisfaction in the relationship between skill mismatch and work-life conflict. Using the 2011 British Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS), we find that not only does skill mismatch have a negative influence on work-life conflict but that this association is completely mediated through job satisfaction. The implications for employees and firms are discussed.

Authors

• Andrey Shevchuk, National Research University Higher School of Economics

• Denis Strebkov, National Research University Higher School of Economics

• Shannon N. Davis, George Mason University