Vertical and Horizontal Education-Job Mismatches in the Korean Youth Labor Market : A Quantile Regression Approach

In an analysis based on a cohort of Korean college graduates, there was a positive relationship between over-education and horizontal mismatches, and in a subsequent regression analysis disregarding horizontal education-job mismatches (over-education), the wage penalty for over-education (horizontal mismatches) was overestimated. Low-ability groups showed significant overestimation, ranging from 8.3% to 89.5%. According to the quantile regression results, the level of wage penalties for over-education and horizontal mismatches varied according to the worker¡¯s ability. The relative importance of these penalties varied according to the worker¡¯s ability and gender. Specifically, the wage penalty for horizontal mismatches exceeded that for over-education for low-ability male workers, whereas the wage penalty for over-education exceeded that for horizontal mismatches for female workers regardless of their ability.