Qualifications mismatch – consequences for workers with vocational and academic qualifications

In today’s labour market, flexibility and mobility are considered to be basic prerequisites for long-term career success. This article looks at the question of whether persons in Switzerland who have completed vocational education and training have any disadvantages in this regard compared to those who are in possession of a higher education degree. Data from the Swiss Budget Panel is used to investigate how likely it is that members of these groups are no longer working in the occupation in which they have trained and the extent to which this is associated with employment which is inappropriate for the qualifications held and wage reductions.