Examining the impact of job matching on workers’ non-cognitive skills: insights from China’s labor market

Abstract

A well-matched job can effectively cultivate employees’ non-cognitive abilities, which in turn enhances their income and career prospects. This study analyzes the mechanism of job matching affecting non-cognitive abilities using data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The findings suggest that job matching positively enhances non-cognitive abilities, with a more significant positive impact from negative job matching compared to positive job matching. Job mismatch negatively affects non-cognitive abilities, and the impact intensifies with the duration of mismatch. Intervening in workers’ early career choices by providing sufficient job information can help them identify and terminate mismatched jobs promptly, thereby protecting and promoting their non-cognitive abilities.