Qualification and skill mismatches: Europe in a cross-national perspective

Abstract

This paper examines patterns in qualification and skill mismatches between countries using data from the CEDEFOP European Skills and Jobs Survey for 28 EU countries. We assess the incidence of both types of mismatches across the EU and document the higher incidence of over instead of under qualification and skilling. The analysis of the determinants of both overqualification and overskilling shows that it is worth exploring qualification and skills mismatches separately, as they are associated with different worker profiles, job characteristics and country aggregate features. Finally, we are able to account for the contribution of aggregate level variables in explaining the incidence of mismatches across the population and countries. They are crucial for the case of overqualification, and as important as individual and job characteristics for overskilling.