Education, College Major, and Job Match: Gender Differences in Reasons for Mismatch

Abstract

Many studies have examined the match between years of schooling and the schooling required for the job. The quantity of schooling is only one way to consider the match between schooling and jobs. This paper considers an alternative match between education and jobs based on the relationship between college majors and work activities. Twenty percent of workers report their work is not related to their degree field. Work-reported reasons for accepting such a position outside the field of study differ for men and women. The wage effects of mismatch vary considerably across the different reasons for accepting the position.