TVETipedia Glossary

Underqualification

Workers hold a lower qualification than the job requires.

Source:
ILO, Skills mismatch in Europe, 2014
ILO, Skills mismatch in Europe, 2014
Access resource, available in English
This brief is part of the efforts that the ILO Department of Statistics is undertaking to contribute to the statistical understanding and quantification of skills mismatch.The brief provides an overview of approaches to measure skills mismatch, and illustrates two approaches using data from the European Social Survey (ESS).

Situation where an individual does not have the level of qualification or skills required to perform a job adequately.

Comment

Underqualification:

can be assessed against the level of qualification, the skills or the degree of work experience;
can be temporary (such as employers hiring underqualified staff for a high-level position until they find a more appropriate person) or have a more permanent character;

This term is close to, but not synonymous with: undereducation, underskilling.

Source:
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (last accessed 10/2024)
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (last accessed 10/2024)
Access resource, available in English, French, German
This revised and expanded multilingual glossary defines 430 key terms used in European education and training policy. Building on the Terminology of European education and training policy – A selection of 130 key terms, published in 2014, this latest version, which draws on the experiences of Cedefop’s experts, gives new definitions and covers the latest European Union policy priorities, particularly on skills intelligence and employment.
Terms are provided in 8 languages: German, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese. Definitions are available in English, German and French.