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Assessing the Incidence and Wage Effects of Over-Skilling in the Australian Labour Market

Author

Listed:
  • Mavromaras, Kostas

    (University of Adelaide)

  • McGuinness, Seamus

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin)

  • Fok, Yin King

    (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research)

Abstract

This paper examines the incidence and wage effects of over-skilling within the Australian labour market. It finds that approximately 30 percent of employees believed themselves to be moderately over-skilled and 11 percent believed themselves to be severely over-skilled. The incidence of skills mismatch varied little when the sample was split by education. After controlling for individual and job characteristics as well as the potential bias arising from individual unobserved heterogeneity, severely over-skilled workers suffer an average wage penalty of 13.3 percent with the penalty ranging from about 8 percent among vocationally qualified employees to over 20 percent for graduates.

Suggested Citation

  • Mavromaras, Kostas & McGuinness, Seamus & Fok, Yin King, 2007. "Assessing the Incidence and Wage Effects of Over-Skilling in the Australian Labour Market," IZA Discussion Papers 2837, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2837
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Séamus McGuinness, 2006. "Overeducation in the Labour Market," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(3), pages 387-418, July.
    2. Battu, H. & Belfield, C.R. & Sloane, P.J., 2000. "How Well Can We Measure Graduate Over- Education and Its Effects?," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 171, pages 82-93, January.
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    7. Kostas Mavromaras & Seamus Mcguinness & Nigel O'Leary & Peter Sloane & Yi King Fok, 2010. "The Problem Of Overskilling In Australia And Britain," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 78(3), pages 219-241, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education; skills;

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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