Mismatch of vocational graduates: What penalty on French labour market?

This study explores individual effects of educational mismatch on wages, job satisfaction on-the-job-search on French labour market. We distinguish between horizontal matches (matches with field of studies) and vertical matches (job matches the level of qualification) the one hand and skills matches (worker's assessment) on the other hand. We use data fr the French survey "Generation 98," conducted among a sample of 22780 young vocatio graduates asked about their employment situation 3 years after leaving school. We show t whatever the criterion chosen, there is a minority of matched situations. We find that situatic of vertical mismatch and skill mismatch have strong negative effects on wages, while situatk of horizontal mismatch have not. However, horizontal mismatch increases both, dissatisfaction and the desire to find another job, even if their job is qualified, perman and reasonably well paid. Implications for the evaluation of vocational training programs discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved