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Educational Mismatch and Trade Union Membership

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT We hypothesize that trade unions assist their members in avoiding situations of educational mismatch. We test this hypothesis using data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel and find that trade union membership is negatively associated with overeducation and positively associated with the likelihood of being educationally matched. These correlations are especially pronounced among core groups of members. Our findings suggest that a strong trade union presence within these groups helps avert the adverse consequences of overeducation and educational mismatch. We observe no systematic linkage between union membership and undereducation.

Source: Industrial Relations A Journal of Economy and Society

DOI: 10.1111/irel.12391

Authors: Theresa Geißler, Laszlo Goerke

Institutions: Institute for Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union, Universität Trier, IZA - Institute of Labor Economics

Language: English

Topic: Labor market dynamics and wage inequality

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,470