Who Pays the Price for Parental Education–Occupation Mismatch? Evidence From an Israeli City

Yariv Feniger,Anastasia Gorodzeisky,Michal Krumer-Nevo

doi:10.1177/2158244019835916

Abstract

In recent years, education–occupation mismatch has become an important area of social research. However, little is known about its impact on the intergenerational transmission of educational attainment. This study investigates the possible negative consequences of a specific aspect of parental education–occupation mismatch, also known as overeducation, for high school students. Drawing from a sample of high school students in an Israeli city with a high incidence of overeducation, our analysis suggests that parental education–occupation mismatch does not affect student expectations for progressing to higher education. The results did reveal, however, that maternal education–occupation mismatch is related to school truancy among boys and girls, and that paternal education–occupation mismatch contributes to lower odds of enrollment in advanced science courses, especially among boys.

Highlights

Education–occupation mismatch arises when one possesses a higher—or lower—level of formal education than that required for one’s job
This study focuses on a specific aspect of education–occupation mismatch, known as overeducation
The findings indicate that compared with non-immigrant students, students whose families immigrated from the former Soviet Union (FSU) reported higher expectations of progressing to higher education, higher levels of parental encouragement for higher education, and much higher likelihood of enrollment on advanced science courses

Summary

Introduction

Education–occupation mismatch arises when one possesses a higher—or lower—level of formal education than that required for one’s job. Research Question 3: Do students whose parents are experiencing education–occupation mismatch have a lower likelihood of enrolling for advanced science high school programs than students whose parents have an academic degree and are employed in a profession commensurate with their education?

Results

Conclusion