The Great Recession officially ended in June 2009. However, the labor market has made agonizingly slow progress toward a full recovery, and the slack that remains continues to be devastating for workers of all ages. The weak labor market has been, and continues to be, very tough on young workers. Though the labor market is headed in the right…

Increasing numbers of recent college graduates are ending up in relatively low-skilled jobs that, historically, have gone to those with lower levels of educational attainment. This study examines this phenomenon in some detail, concluding: (1) About 48 percent of employed U.S. college graduates are in jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)…

Four telling facts about jobs and wages for young Americans, as explained in this policy brief, suggest a labor market recovery is coming, although it will be gradual and uneven by educational attainment. Young Americans with a postsecondary degree are more likely to be employed, but the nature of their employment suggests they are taking…

The fact that in Mexico a large part of the population has access to higher education institutions, both public and private, does not indicate that the students are going to have the opportunity of developing the knowledge acquired in the university. Unemployment is often present; therefore their hopes to get a better life are diminished.…

Overskilling is the phenomenon whereby a worker's skills are underutilised in his or her job. Overskilled workers are employed, but they are underutilised and mismatched, in that their skills and abilities are not a good match with the requirements of the job. Overskilling can lead to decreased wages and job satisfaction, which suggests that the…

Though the labor market is slowly improving, the Great Recession that began in December 2007 was so long and severe that the crater it left in the labor market continues to be devastating for workers of all ages. Unemployment has been above eight percent for more than three years, and 12.7 million workers remain unemployed today. The weak labor…

Across the massive megalopolis stretching from the northern suburbs of Los Angeles County through the metropolitan complex along the northern border of Baja California is a diverse area containing 24 million people, with a disproportionate percentage of Latinos and African Americans who are facing an educational and economic disaster. As it…

The Protestant Reformation swept across Central Europe in the early-sixteenth century, leaving cities divided into Evangelical and Catholic camps as some instituted reforms and others remained loyal to the Roman Church. In offering a new explanation of the Reformation, we develop a theory that identifies ideologically mobilized students as bridge…

Analysis of a cross-sectional sample of 11,597 Spanish workers found that overeducated (underemployed) workers have less experience, decreased on-the-job training, and higher turnover. Although job match improved with age and mobility, this effect leveled off after age 35. (SK)

Workers of Mexican descent are increasing in the labor force. The vast majority of legal Mexican residents and U.S. citizens of Mexican descent have experienced unemployment and employment discrimination. Experiences differ by place of birth, sex, and generation. (SK)

Current Population Survey data reveal that the incidence of underemployment for Mexican American males was twice as high as white males, and underemployment was 1.6 times higher for Mexican American females than white females. Joblessness among Mexican Americans accounted for less than one-third of their underemployment. Young and poorly educated…

Because of low educational levels, a disproportionately high unemployment rate, and low earnings, Hispanics hold a precarious position in the labor market. The low level of educational attainment in the Hispanic community is the single most important determinant in lack of success. Hispanic men are underrepresented in managerial/professional…

Examines the roles of demographic composition, education, and industrial mix in explaining metro-nonmetropolitan differences in underemployment. Documents higher prevalence of "discouraged workers," unemployment, and underemployment in nonmetropolitan areas. Shows educational composition is single most important component accounting for…

Implications from a literature review on the employment status and income of deaf people include the following: (1) serious underemployment of the deaf, (2) uncertainty about the effects of compensatory legislation on education and employment problems, and (3) significant effects of deafness on income and lifetime earning power. (SK)

This paper compares the causes and consequences of employment instability among Mexican-origin women, White women, and White men. Data came from the work experience supplement in the March 1995 file of the Current Population Survey for a sample that included 1,399 Mexican-origin women, 17,092 White women, and 24,440 White men. All were experienced…