Overqualification and Skill Development in the OECD

• In Event: 1184 - Section on Organizations, Occupations, and Work Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 21. Open Topic

Abstract

In recent decades, developed economies have witnessed significant rises in educational attainment. However, this has coincided with a rise in the number of workers who are overqualified for their jobs. Thus, many the individuals who have increased their educational attainment in recent decades may be stuck in jobs they are overqualified for. This research examines the relationship between overqualification and participation in training and skill development activities using the PIAAC survey. Results from logistic regression models indicate that overqualification is associated with a decreased likelihood of participation in activities related to skill development compared to well-matched workers. Yet, this relationship is different across countries and dependent upon the type of training activity individuals are participating in. This analysis shows that overqualified individuals have few opportunities to further develop their human capital or occupation-specific skills while in these positions. Additionally, this is one of the few analyses looking at overqualification and skill development in a large sample of 29 countries as opposed to country-specific case studies. Thus, these results have implication for the study of labor markets, educational attainment, and overqualification.

Author

• Kevin J. McElrath, State University of New York-Stony Brook