Occupational Match

Abstract

The aim of this article is to study the differences in the match/mismatch of education and job level as well as the differences between the native and immigrant population in the occupational match. A distinction is made between educational levels and general and vocational education. A sample consisting of native Swedes and nine immigrant groups, based on register data, was selected for analysis. Descriptive statistics are presented and analyzed as well as logistic regression analysis controlling for basic human capital and immigrant specific variables. The main conclusions of the article are that there are considerable differences between vocational and general education in the match/mismatch, as well as differences between natives and immigrants. The vocationally educated population shows a higher match compared to the generally educated, but the generally educated population shows a higher proportion of undereducated individuals compared to the vocationally educated population. Although there are considerable differences between the studied immigrant groups, the general conclusion is that the immigrated population shows a lower match between educational level and skills level of the job as well as a higher level of overeducation compared to the native population. Résumé Le but de cet article est d'étudier les différences dans les équivalences et les non équivalences d'études au niveau des études et du travail ainsi que les différences parmi les gens du pays et la population immigrée. On fait une distinction entre les niveaux d'étude et les connaissances générales et professionnelles. Un échantillon composé de Suédois d'origine et neuf groupes d'immigrés, basé sur des données indiquées, a été sélectionné pour analyse. Les statistiques décrites sont présentées et analysées ainsi que l'analyse de la régression logistique, contrôlant le capital humain basique et les variations spécifiques des immigrés. Les principales conclusions de cet article sont les différences considérables entre la formation professionnelle et générale dans les équivalences et les non équivalences ainsi que les différences entre les gens du pays et les immigrés. La population ayant reçu uneformation professionnelle montre une plus grande équivalence comparé à la formation générale. Mais la population ayant reçu une formation générale montre une plus grande proportion d'individus qui ont fait peu d'études comparé à la population avec une formation professionnelle. Malgré les différences considérables entre les groupes d'immigrés étudiés, la conclusion générale est qu'une population immigrée montre une équivalence plus faible entre le niveau d'études et le niveau d'aptitudes professionnelles ainsi qu'un plus grand niveau des personnes surqualifiées comparées aux gens du pays.

Over-Education Amongst the Children of Immigrants in Sweden

“…This means that there is substantial evidence to suggest that, in terms of occupational mismatch, the descendant generation does much better than the parental immigrant generation. One possible explanation for this is that the descendants have obtained most of their education in Sweden and are thereby not affected by the devaluation of human capital (Chiswick & Miller 2009;Dahlstedt 2011) that their parents experienced when migrating. The descendant generation is also less likely to be affected by signalling problems since the education is obtained in Sweden.…”

“…Kiker et al 1997;Rubb 2003;Sicherman 1991), very few studies of mismatch are related to immigrants in the labour market, as stated in the introduction. Notable exceptions include Berggren & Omarsson (2001), Oscarsson & Grannas (2001, Bevelander & Lundh (2007), Green et al (2007), Chiswick & Miller (2009), Dahlstedt (2011, Kalfa & Piracha (2013), Nielsen (2007) and Nordin et al (2008). To my knowledge, no research has been conducted on the descendant generation in Sweden or elsewhere.…”

“…This means the individual need to upgrade the education in order to benefit fully from the education.) As discussed in Dahlstedt (2011), the migrant generation can be mismatched as a result of discriminatory practices or signalling problems (Chiswick & Miller 2009). Signalling theory (Spence 1973) stipulates that employers use the educational level of the workers as an indicator or a signal of the workers' productivity.…”

“…These studies suggest that immigrants who are not working at a matching level are more likely to work at a level that is below their skills level (educational level), while natives are more likely to work at a level above their skills level (see Bevelander & Lundh 2007;Oscarsson & Grannas 2001Andersson Joona et al 2014). Dahlstedt (2011) has found that immigrants work at a lower skills level than their education stipulates to a greater extent than natives. At the same time, there are considerable differences between immigrant groups.…”

“…At the secondary and university levels, it is possible to distinguish between general and vocational education (see Dahlstedt & Bevelander 2010;Dahlstedt 2011 for a discussion).…”