Degrees of Doubt: Overqualification as a Blind Spot at the Base of the Knowledge Economy.
Saved in:
| Title: | Degrees of Doubt: Overqualification as a Blind Spot at the Base of the Knowledge Economy. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Pantea, Maria-Carmen1 (AUTHOR) maria.pantea@ubbcluj.ro |
| Source: | Minerva: A Review of Science, Learning & Policy. Mar2026, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p217-240. 24p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Graduate education, Call centers, Information economy, Underemployment, Human resources departments, Service industries, Labor market |
| Geographic Terms: | Romania, Eastern Europe |
| Abstract: | Europe has the most educated generation in its history, yet an alarming number of graduates are overqualified. This paper explores the intersection between education and work from the perspectives of those involved in a sector that is prone to overqualification: the call centres of Romania's thriving business service sector. Based on over 100 in-depth interviews with young people, human resource personnel, and managerial staff at different levels of seniority, the paper maps subjective views about overqualification. Despite the objective classification of employment in call centres in terms of national occupational codes, most interviewees, regardless of their role, were unlikely to read their employment through the lenses of overqualification. Young people internalised the gap between education and employment and learned not to attach strong employment-related expectations to degrees, especially those in the social sciences and humanities (non-STEM). Managers and HR staff highly regarded company-specific skills and had learned to tap into a group of graduates without clear labour market routes. The paper conceptualises the availability of jobs at the bottom of the 'knowledge economy' in connection with employment structures available in the economic semi-periphery and problematises politically the question of overqualification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Minerva: A Review of Science, Learning & Policy is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Europe has the most educated generation in its history, yet an alarming number of graduates are overqualified. This paper explores the intersection between education and work from the perspectives of those involved in a sector that is prone to overqualification: the call centres of Romania's thriving business service sector. Based on over 100 in-depth interviews with young people, human resource personnel, and managerial staff at different levels of seniority, the paper maps subjective views about overqualification. Despite the objective classification of employment in call centres in terms of national occupational codes, most interviewees, regardless of their role, were unlikely to read their employment through the lenses of overqualification. Young people internalised the gap between education and employment and learned not to attach strong employment-related expectations to degrees, especially those in the social sciences and humanities (non-STEM). Managers and HR staff highly regarded company-specific skills and had learned to tap into a group of graduates without clear labour market routes. The paper conceptualises the availability of jobs at the bottom of the 'knowledge economy' in connection with employment structures available in the economic semi-periphery and problematises politically the question of overqualification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00264695 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11024-024-09564-w |
