Type of the article: Research Article
Abstract
Education–job mismatch is a critical challenge in Vietnam, as rapid educational expansion and changing labor demand have intensified concerns regarding efficient human capital allocation. Despite growing attention to mismatch, there is limited evidence on how labor market structures and provincial institutional conditions jointly shape mismatch outcomes.
This study investigates the determinants of education–job mismatch using data from the 2022 Vietnam Labor Force Survey (LFS) and provincial institutional indicators from the 2022 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI). Education–job mismatch is measured by comparing workers’ educational attainment with occupational skill requirements. A multinomial logit model is employed to estimate the likelihood of under- and overeducation relative to adequately matched employment, based on data from 411,173 workers.
The results show that educational attainment is systematically associated with observed mismatch outcomes. Compared with workers with upper secondary education, college graduates exhibit a relative risk ratio (RRR) of 39.87 and university graduates an RRR of 10.63 for overeducation. Workers employed in foreign-invested enterprises are 3.42 times more likely to be overeducated than workers in the state sector. Provincial institutional conditions are also associated with a mismatch. The Labor Training Index is associated with a lower likelihood of overeducation (RRR = 0.89), whereas the Informal Charges Index is positively associated with overeducation (RRR = 1.19).
The findings suggest that education–job mismatch in Vietnam reflects broader structural and institutional conditions in addition to individual characteristics. Strengthening workforce training systems and improving alignment between education and labor demand may contribute to more efficient human capital allocation.
Acknowledgment
This study uses secondary data obtained from the 2022 Vietnam Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) and the 2022 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) published by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). Access to the LFS microdata is subject to the data access and usage regulations of the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, while PCI data are publicly available through the official PCI database.
The study is based exclusively on anonymized secondary data and does not involve direct participation of human subjects or access to personally identifiable information. Therefore, formal ethical approval was not required.
The authors received no specific funding for this research and declare no conflict of interest.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used solely to assist with language editing, grammar checking, and improving the clarity of academic writing. All analyses, interpretations, results, and conclusions were developed and verified by the authors, who assume full responsibility for the content of this manuscript.
