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The Overeducation of Immigrants in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Angela Dalmonte
  • Tommaso Frattini
  • Sofia Giorgini

Abstract

This paper explores the overeducation of tertiary-educated migrants in European labour markets. Using data from the European Labour Force Survey (2012-2022), we show that immigrants, particularly those from non-EU countries, are significantly more likely to be overeducated than natives. Despite a general decline in overeducation levels for all groups over time, the immigrant-native gap remains, especially for foreign-educated migrants. Furthermore, the likelihood of overeducation for foreign-educated migrants increases until 15-19 years after migration, a pattern consistent across all areas of origin and migration cohorts. Importantly, differences in educational quality between origin and destination countries do not primarily account for these overeducation differentials. The findings underscore the need for policies that better align immigrants' skills with labour market demands in Europe to avoid the waste of valuable immigrants' skills, which are harmful not only to migrants but to the economies of receiving countries too.

Suggested Citation

  • Angela Dalmonte & Tommaso Frattini & Sofia Giorgini, 2024. "The Overeducation of Immigrants in Europe," Development Working Papers 496, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:csl:devewp:496
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    EU labour markets; immigration; Skill mismatch;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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