Overeducation, Overskilling and Job Satisfaction in Europe: The Moderating Role of Employment Contracts

Arbeitspapier

This paper is the first to examine whether and how overeducation and overskilling, considered separately and in interaction, influence workers' job satisfaction at European level. It also investigates the moderating role of employment contracts. Our results, based on a unique pan-European database covering 28 countries in 2014, show that overeducation and overskilling reduce the probability of workers being satisfied with their jobs, but also that the drop in job satisfaction is almost double for genuinely overeducated workers (i.e. workers that are both overeducated and overskilled). These adverse effects on job satisfaction are found to be more pronounced among mismatched workers (whether overeducated, overskilled or both) on fixed-term rather than indefinite contracts.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GLO Discussion Paper ; No. 1419

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions ; Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity ; Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy ; Labor Contracts
• Subject: Job Satisfaction ; Overeducation ; Overskilling ; Labour Contracts ; Europe

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Giuliano, Romina ; Mahy, Benoît ; Rycx, François ; Vermeylen, Guillaume
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Global Labor Organization (GLO)
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2024

Further information

• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET