Measuring skill mismatches and qualification mismatches. Current trends, challenges and opportunities. |
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| Coordinator 1 | Mr Stephan Bischof (Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, Bamberg (Germany)) |
| Coordinator 2 | Dr James Patrick Allen (Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market, Maastricht University (Netherlands)) |
Skill or qualification mismatches are widespread phenomena affecting considerable parts of the working population across different regions, countries and economies. This issue is further strengthened by current trends such as digitalisation, technological innovation, globalisation or educational expansion and resulting shifts in labour markets and changing occupational demands. The matching process between individuals and jobs is particularly challenging in times of multiple crises and challenges, for example, due to educational and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortage of skilled workers or structural shifts in labour supply and demand due to migration flows or climate change.
Understanding the causes and consequences of skill or qualification mismatches and addressing the resulting challenges need valid and adequate measurement of mismatches between individuals and jobs. Policymakers, training organizations, companies or social partners need accurate information on mismatches to developing strategic policies to handle mismatches, such as changes in education and training systems, to counteract future skill deficits, or to provide the employability of individuals. However, skill or qualification mismatch incidences highly vary depending on the measurement approach, illustrating the relevance of using adequate measurement methods.
The paper session aims to address current trends, challenges and opportunities to measuring skill mismatches and qualification mismatches. The session is thus intended to give researchers dealing theoretically or empirically with measurement methods of skill mismatches or qualification mismatches (e.g. educational mismatch, field of education mismatch) the opportunity to present and discuss their research, methods and challenges in mismatch measurement. For example, subjective and objective mismatch measurement methods as well as multidimensional or skill-specific measurement methods could be presented and discussed. Furthermore, current developments and future opportunities for mismatch measurement, such as the use of online surveys or the relevance of mismatches in specific fields and skill domains, can be presented and discussed.