Overqualification of Russian Employees: Scale, Determinants, Consequences

Occupation: Prof., Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management, Graduate School of Business
Affiliation: National Research University «Higher School of Economics»
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya

Edition

Issue 11

Pages

37-48

Abstract

Overqualification is a unique form of underemployment, which represents a state where the employee's abilities, knowledge, skills and/or experience exceed job requirements and are not utilized on the job. The aim of the research is to assess the scale of the excessive qualification mismatch among Russian workers, to ascertain its determinants and the impact on potential turnover and job satisfaction. The empirical basis of the work is the microdata of the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of the Population conducted by Rosstat in 2018. The measurement of qualification mismatch is based on the direct self-assessment by the respondents. About half of Russian workers believe they are overskilled. The regression analysis showed that the most significant determinant of overqualification is the level of education. Higher education increases the likelihood of overqualification. Working in the informal sector, poor working conditions, overeducation, and field of study mismatch increase the likelihood that the worker will consider him(her)self overskilled. It has been proven that overqualification is a significant predictor of labor behavior. The likelihood of finding a new, more suitable job is higher among those workers who assess their qualifications as excessive. Overqualification has a negative impact on job satisfaction, reducing the likelihood of being satisfied and increasing the risks of dissatisfaction.

Keywords

qualification mismatch, overqualification, potential turnover, job satisfaction

Received

24.11.2021

Publication date

22.12.2021

Number of characters

28740

Cite

GOST	Varshavskaya E. Overqualification of Russian Employees: Scale, Determinants, Consequences // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2021. – Issue 11 C. 37-48 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250016075-5-1-en (circulation date: 05.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250016075-5
MLA	Varshavskaya, Elena Ya "Overqualification of Russian Employees: Scale, Determinants, Consequences." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 11 (2021):37-48. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250016075-5
APA	Varshavskaya E. (2021). Overqualification of Russian Employees: Scale, Determinants, Consequences. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (11), pp.37-48 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250016075-5

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