Underemployment Experiences Among Youth with Higher Education Graduates: A Qualitative Research Study in Istanbul

Öz

This study aims to determine the causes and measures to be taken to minimize the underemployment problem of the youth in emerging economies and draw attention to their importance. In this context, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 individuals aged 15-29 working outside of the fields they received education in the province of Istanbul, one of the emerging economies of Türkiye, which has a youth-dominant demography and university. According to the findings obtained in the study, it was determined that there are many apparent reasons for education-employment mismatch among higher education graduates. Over the years, the labor market conditions in Türkiye have hindered the graduates' ability to secure jobs in their respective fields. Factors such as living costs, environmental pressures, and psycho-social issues contribute significantly to the aggravation of this mismatch by compelling individuals to seek employment outside their educational backgrounds. In addition, it was determined that the work experiences they started in their early careers experiences created a vicious spiral mostly woven with negative experiences. The similarity between the findings and those of numerous studies in the existing literature indicates credibility and consistency in our findings. Significant factors such as preference among the young population group based on their scores when entering the university ranking exam, the absence of a conscious guidance process, the inability of labor markets to provide a linear expansion in line with the increase in the number of university-educated graduates, forced choices brought about by the need for work experience, and family and environmental pressure are the determinants of the underemployment experience stands out among them.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Underemployment
• youth
• higher education
• qualitative research
• Istanbul

Kaynakça

1. Aberg, R. (2003). Unemployment persistenc, over education and the employment chances of the less educated. European Sociological Review, 19(2), p. 199-216. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/19.2.199
2. Acun, S., & Güneş, B. (2014). Türkiye’de 2008 Krizinin Eksik İstihdama Etkileri. Ekonomik Yaklaşım, 25(90), s. 49-69.
3. Albert, C., Davia, M. A., & Legazpe, N. (2023). Educational mismatch in recent university graduates. The role of labour mobility. Journal of Youth Studies, 26(1), 113-135.
4. Appelbaum, E., & Schettkat, R. (1995). Employment and productivity in industrialized economies. International Labour. Review., 134, 4-5. 605.
5. Aronson, P., Callahan, T., & Davis, T. (2015). The transition from college to work during the great recession: Employment, financial, and identity challenges. Journal of Youth Studies, 18(9), 1097-1118.
6. Aytun, U., & Meçik, O. (2023). Wage Returns to Field of Study-Occupation Mismatch in Turkish Graduate Labor Market: Quantile Regression Approach. Ege Academic Review, 23(4), 653-666.
7. Bacanlı, F., Akyol, E. Y., Kaynak, S., & Özhan, M. B. (2018). Ergen-ebeveyn kariyer uyumu ölçeği’ni Türkçeye uyarlama çalışması. Ege Eğitim Dergisi, 19(2), 389-407.
8. Botezat, A., Incaltarau, C., Diac, S. A., & Grosu, A. C. (2024). Having your career path decided too early: the effects of high school track on education-occupation mismatch. International Journal of Manpower. 45(6), 1171-1190.

9. Bracke, P., Van De Straat, V., & Missinne, S. (2014). Education, mental health, and education–labor market misfit. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 55(4), 442-459.
10. Brunello, G., & Checchi, D. (2007). Does school tracking affect equality of opportunity? New international evidence. Economic policy, 22(52), 782-861.
11. Büyükgöze-Kavas, A., Allan, B. A., Turan, M., & Kirazci, F. (2021). Context and validation of the subjective underemployment scale among Turkish employees. Journal of Career Assessment, 29(2), 283- 302.
12. Çelik, H., Baykal, N. B., & Memur, H. N. K. (2020). Nitel veri analizi ve temel ilkeleri. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi, 8(1), s. 379-406. https://doi.org/10.14689/issn.2148-2624.1.8c.1s.16m
13. Churchill, B., & Khan, C. (2021). Youth underemployment: A review of research on young people and the problems of less (er) employment in an era of mass education. Sociology Compass, 15(10), e12921. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12921
14. Coşan, B. (2023). Dünyada ve Türkiye’de Evlilik Yaşını Artışı: Nedenler Muhtemel Sonuçlar ve Politika Önerileri. Ankara: Nobel Bilimsel Eserler.
15. Dikmen, F. H. (2021). Türkiye’de Genç Yetişkinlerde Zamana Dayalı Eksik İstihdamın Özellikleri. Hacettepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 39(2), s. 211-222. https://doi.org/10.17065/huniibf.744308
16. Dooley, D., Prause, J., & Ham-Rowbottom, K. A. (2000). Underemployment and depression: longitudinal relationships. Journal of health and social behavior, p.421-436. https://doi.org/10.2307/2676295
17. Dunlavy, A. C., Garcy, A. M., & Rostila, M. (2016). Educational mismatch and health status among foreign-born workers in Sweden. Social Science & Medicine, 154, 36-44.
18. Emeç, H., Üçdoğruk Birecikli, Ş., & Kümbül Güler, B. (2020). Türkiye’de Gençlerle Eksik İstihdamın Analizi. Yönetim ve Çalışma Dergisi, 4(2), s. 137-152.
19. Euler, D. (2013). Germany’s dual vocational training system: a model for other countries?.Gütersloh: Bertelsmann. https://www.bertelsmannstiftung.de/fileadmin/files/BSt/Publikationen/GrauePublikationen/GP_Germanys_dual_vocational_training_system.pdf
20. Fauser, S., & Moo-Reci, I. (2023). Visualizing Underemployment Dynamics in Australia: Combining Sankey and Sequence Analysis Plots. Socius, 9, p. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023123116064
21. Green, F., & Henseke, G. (2021). Europe’s Evolving Graduate Labour Markets: Supply, Demand, Underemployment and Pay. Journal for Labour Market Research, 55(2), p. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12651-021-00288-y
22. ILO (1998). The Sixteenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians, Retrieved June 25 https://www. ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---stat/documents/normativeinstrument/wcms_087487.pdf
23. Jackson, D., & Li, I. (2022). Transition to work, mismatch and underemployment among graduates: an Australian longitudinal study. International Journal of Manpower, 43(7), 1516-1539
24. Kaur, M., Goyal, P., & Goyal, M. (2020). Individual, Interpersonal and Economic Challenges of Underemployment in the wake of COVID-19. Work, 67(1), p. 21-28. https://doi.org/ 10.3233/WOR-203249
25. Kim, S. J., & Choi, S. O. (2018). The effects of job mismatch on pay, job satisfaction, and performance. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 4(4), 49.
26. Kirazci, F., & Buyukgoze-Kavas, A. (2024). Underemployment, Work Needs, and Job Satisfaction: Does Social Support Matter?. Behavioral Sciences, 14(4), 335.
27. Klein, M. (2015). The İncreasing Unemployment Gap Between The Low And High Educated in West Germany. Structural or Cyclical Crowding-out? Social Science Research, 50, p. 110-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.11.010Get rights and content
28. Lee, J., Kapteyn, A., Clomax, A., & Jin, H. (2021). Estimating influences of unemployment and underemployment on mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Who Suffers the most? Public Health, 201, p. 48-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.09.038
29. Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of vocational behavior, 45(1), 79-122.
30. Li, N., Liang , H., Gao, Y., & Wu, D. (2022). Short- and LongTerm Effects of Underemployment on Workers’ Health: Empirical Analysis from the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), p. 2-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416695
31. Low, L. (2011). Singapore’s skills development system: Synergies between state and market. In M. R. Godfrey & M. J. Slater (Eds.), The Technical and Vocational Education and Training System in Singapore: Key Success Factors (pp. 15-28). World Bank.
32. McGowan, M. A., & Andrews, D. (2015). Labour Market Mismatch and Labour Productivity: Evidence From PIAAC Data. OECD Economics Department Working Papers(1209), p. 1-51. https://doi.org/10.1787/18151973
33. Montcho, G., & Carrière, Y., & Mérette, M. (2022). A Dynamic Labor Utilization Framework for Measuring Under Employment. Available at SSRN 3953837. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3953837
34. More, S., & Rosenbloom, T. (2021). Job-Field Underemployment and Career Satisfaction: A Relationship of Cause and Effect. International Journal of Business and Management, 15(10), p. 1-82. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v15n10p82
35. Nunez, I., & Livanos, I. (2010). Higher Education and Unemployment in Europe: An Analysis of the Academic Subject and National Effects. Higher Education, 59, p. 475-487. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9260-7
36. Rios‐Avila, F., & Saavedra-Caballero, F. (2019). It pays to study for the right job: Exploring the causes and consequences of education-occupation job mismatch. Levy Economics Institute, Working Papers Series, (922).
37. Robst, J. (2007). Education and job match: The relatedness of college major and work. Economics of Education review, 26(4), 397-407.
38. Schreurs, B. H., Hamstra, M., Jawadar, I., & Akkermans, J. (2020). Perceived Overqualification and Counterproductive Work Behavior: Testing The Mediating Role of Relative Deprivation and The Moderating Role of Ambition. Personnel Review, 50(3), p. 1038-1055. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-05-2019-0237
39. Selim, S., Kırgel, H., Çelik , O., & Yazıcıoğlu, H. (2014). Türkiye’de İşsizliğin Sosyo-ekonomik Belirleyicileri: Panel Veri Analizi. Uluslararası Yönetim İktisat ve İşletme Dergisi, 10(22), s. 1-25. https://doi.org/10.11122/ijmeb.2013.9.19.459
40. Serikbayeva, B., & Abdulla, K. (2022). Education-job mismatch: Implications for individual earnings and aggregate output. Social Indicators Research, 163(2), 723-752.
41. Sloane, P. J. M. (2020). Overeducation, skill mismatches, and labor market outcomes for college graduates. IZA World of Labor. Underemployment Experiences Among Youth with Higher Education Graduates: A Qualitative Research Study in Istanbul.
42. Somers, M. A., Cabus, S. J., Groot, W., & van den Brink, H. M. (2019). Horizontal mismatch between employment and field of education: Evidence from a systematic literature review. Journal of Economic Surveys, 33(2), 567-603.
43. Tartılacı, H. İ. (2022). Türkiye’de Zamana Dayalı Eksik İstihdam ve Yetersiz İstihdam: Denizli İlinde Nitel Bir Araştırma. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü. Denizli.
44. Taş, M. A., & Özmen, M. (2019). Meslek seçiminde aile desteği ve kariyer uyum yetenekleri ilişkisi: Olumlu gelecek beklentisinin aracilik rolü. Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi, 7(16), 736-761.
45. Taşçı, H. M., & Darıcı, B. (2010). Türkiye’de Eksik İstihdamın Belirleyenleri: HIA ile Bir Mikro Veri Uygulaması. Maliye Dergisi(158), s. 278-300.
46. Thompson, K. W., Shea, T. H., Sikora, D. M., Perrewe, P. L., & Ferris, G. R. (2013). Rethinking underemployment and overqualification in organizations: The not so ugly truth. Business Horizons, 56(1), p. 113-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2012.09.009
47. Ünal, H., & Gönülaçan, A. (2019). Türkiye›de Eksik İstihdam Edilenlerin Ortak Özelliklerinin Belirlenmesi: Lojistik Regresyon Analizi. Maliye Dergisi, 176, s. 128-139.
48. Van de Werfhorst, H. G., & Mijs, J. J. (2010). Achievment inequality and the institutionalstructure of educational systems: A comparative perspective. Annual review of sociology, 36(1), 407-428.
49. Van der Berg, S., & Van Broekhuizen, H. (2012). Graduate unemployment in South Africa: A much exaggerated problem. Centre for Development and Enterprise, Stellenbosch University.
50. Verhaest, D., & Velden, R. (2013). Cross-Country Differences in Graduate Overeducation. European Sociological Review, 29(3), p. 642-653. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcs044
51. Wiczer, D. (2013). Long-term Unemployment: Attached and Mismatched?. In 2013 Meeting Paper (No. 1101).
52. Xu, Q., & Chen, Y. (2024). Educational mismatch and mental health: Evidence from China. Social Science & Medicine, 356, 117140.