Education-Job (Horizontal) Mismatch Among University Graduates: Impact on Wages, Job Satisfaction and Potential Employee Turnover

The phenomenon of education-job mismatch (horizontal mismatch) is studied poorly in Russia. This work is intended to contribute to the theoretical and practical background of education-job mismatch in Russia. In this research, the definition of mismatch was given, its classification was generalized, the determinants were described, the effects of work outside the specialty were identified, and the foreign and Russian experience of studying this phenomenon was analyzed. Based on the data of the Selective Federal Statistical Survey of the employment of graduates who have received secondary vocational and higher education, conducted by Rosstat in 2016, it was revealed that in Russia 34% are horizontally mismatched. Men are more likely to work outside their specialty than women. Most often, graduates of specialties related to health care, aviation, rocket and space industries, information security are statistically matched. We also analyzed the effects of work outside the specialty - horizontal mismatch driven by demand (forced), and driven by supply (voluntary) negatively affect job satisfaction and increase the employee's chances of on-job-search. Horizontal mismatch driven by demand negatively affects income of graduates.