Overqualification and the gap between educational qualifications and labor market demands

Abstract

In recent years, a structural phenomenon has intensified, directly affecting both the quality of employment and the efficiency of the educational system: the growing disconnect between the academic training received by professionals and the competencies actually demanded by the labor market. This misalignment has led to a significant increase in overqualification, understood as the employment of individuals with education levels and skills that exceed the requirements of the positions they occupy. The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between overqualification and the gap between educational training and the actual demands of the labor market. A qualitative approach was used, based on a documentary review, examining cases in five professional areas to identify the causes of overqualification, the differences between academic training and labor market demands, as well as possible strategies for addressing the issue. The results show that overqualification is common across various professional fields, as a consequence of the mismatch between educational profiles and the real needs of the labor market. Underutilized skills and a gap between what is taught in formal education and what is required by employers were identified. Proposed strategies to address this problem include strengthening the links between academia and the productive sector, as well as promoting the development of transversal skills.