Work

Workers’ internal locus of control and labour market mismatch

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between workers’ internal locus of control (ILOC) and education and skill mismatch. Using German survey data, we distinguish subjective and objective education mismatch and self-reported skill mismatch and account for cognitive ability and other relevant confounders. Higher ILOC is associated with lower probabilities of underutilising human capital through overeducation or overskilling, and with a higher probability of being subjectively undereducated. Gender-specific analyses reveal different patterns: among women, higher ILOC is primarily associated with less human capital underutilisation, whereas among men, the clearest association is with subjective undereducation.

Source: Education Economics

DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2026.2744196

Authors: Ana Santiago-Vela, Caroline Wehner

Institution: Technische Universität Braunschweig

Language: English

Topic: Labor market dynamics and wage inequality

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: European Consortium for Sociological Research