Economic and non-economic effects of the mismatch between one's job and field of study: evidence from the implementation of an institutional follow-up survey of graduates

Abstract

Misalignment between a worker's field of study and job has received much attention in the literature (Robst, 2007). Research shows that workers employed in areas unrelated to their fields of study earn lower salaries than those with the same level of education yet employed in positions related to their education. This paper estimates the educational mismatch's effect on wages and analyses its implications on job satisfaction, through analyzing data gleamed from a survey of a public metropolitan university's graduates, applied over the period of 2014-2017. The study seeks to answer the following: How does working outside of one's degree field affect earnings and job satisfaction? Which characteristics of educational and work pathways explain the misalignment between the field of study and type of employment? This study shows that those who are employed in positions unrelated to their areas of study earn less and enjoy less job satisfaction than those whose work is aligned with their field of study. Likewise, effects on job satisfaction are more pronounced three years after graduation, particularly for men with business and administration degrees compared to technology graduates, given lower expectations for professional development in their current positions.