Comparison of Job Satisfaction, Life Satisfaction, and Performance of Overeducated and Other Workers

Abstract

Abstract It is becoming increasingly necessary for college graduates in the United States to take jobs requiring only a high school diploma. In the present study, the effects of employing such overeducated workers were assessed for a sample of city and county government workers. The sample included both overeducated workers and a cohort matched on job, sex, age, tenure, and supervisor. The hypotheses predicted lower job satisfaction over the six dimensions for the overeducated workers, and also that various worker perceptions would influence the predictions of the job satisfactions. None of the direct correlations between education and the six dimensions of job satisfaction were significant. The relationships between workers' perception variables and aspects of job satisfaction, however, were significant. There were no differences between the overeducated and their cohorts in general life satisfaction. On supervisory ratings, overeducated workers' performance was only slightly different from other workers.