The over-qualification of Eastern EU migrants: A gendered and sectoral approach

This study explores the overqualification risks among Eastern European migrants in Western Europe, emphasizing gender disparities and labor market segregation. Utilizing data from the 2018–2019 EU Labour Force Survey, it compares tertiary-educated migrants to the stayer peers in their origin countries. The findings reveal that Eastern EU migrants are more likely to be overqualified than stayers, particularly in sectors with high migrant segregation, such as manufacturing for men or private care for women, as well as transports, accommodation and food for both genders. While female migrants generally face a greater overqualification risks, the gender gap diminishes in sectors where migrants face higher segregation. Contrary to traditional tied-mover theories, Eastern European migrant women tend to act as breadwinners and first-mover, thus their risk of overqualification is similar to migrant men. The research highlights that migration rarely serves as a straightforward pathway to socio-economic mobility for Eastern European graduates, as they are frequently confined to low- and medium-qualified jobs abroad, regardless their occupational and educational credentials. This study underscores the need for nuanced approaches to migrants’ integration and labor market policies, addressing structural inequalities to foster opportunities for fair occupational-matching and upward mobility for male and female Eastern Europeans.