Polish labour market and employees with higher education

Abstract

This paper presents the situation of persons with higher education on the Polish labour market. The analyses aspects concerning the performance of educated persons on the Polish labour market, in particular: stability of employment, occupied position, working time and level of job satisfaction, along with the main determinants of such an assessment. Special attention is paid to invisible underemployment (overeducation) and overemployment. The source of the data are the results of an empirical study conducted among a group of over 900 respondents with higher education. Statistical methods were used (primarily descriptive statistics). The research presented in the article indicates that the vast majority of people with higher education are employed. The activity rate for this group is significantly higher than for less educated persons. What is more, such persons usually have permanent employment and, less often, work for a specified period or run their own business. However, it should be emphasized that about 40% of employees hold positions that do not require college education, which are below their qualifications. Another important problem is overtime work (overemployment). Almost every third of highly educated employees would like to work fewer hours per week.