Overeducation of tertiary education graduates in Slovakia: relationship with the field of study

Abstract

The main objective of the analysis is to explore the role of the field of study indetermining the overeducation of tertiary education grad- uates. The individual-level analysis of overeducation determinants is performed on Slovak Labour Force Survey. We use a probit model with sample selection to take into account the selection of graduates into employment. The results suggest a strong relationship between study fields and overeducation risk. In particular, graduates in ICT; Arts and Humanities; and Education are less likely to become overeducated. The opposite is true for graduates in Services. Furthermore, we found evi- dence that some field of study effects are gender-specific. We also ex- plore the role of labour shortages as an important channel through which field of study affects overeducation risk. Finally, based on ob- served empirical results implications for educational and labour mar- ket policies are suggested.