Overqualified Civil Servants, a Bargain or a Risk in a Turbulent Public Sector? Examining the Impact of Overqualification Within Teams on Trust in Change Management and Qualitative Job Insecurity

Abstract

Public organizations regularly undergo reforms that create uncertainty for employees. Trust in change management, meaning employees believe leaders will handle reforms fairly, transparently and competently, is essential for coping with such changes. Team dynamics can weaken this trust. One important factor is overqualification, which occurs when employees have more skills or education than their job requires. Although sometimes viewed as an advantage, overqualification can also create frustration and doubt during reform. This study examines how the presence of overqualified employees in teams affects collective trust in change management and shapes perceptions of qualitative job insecurity, the feeling that valued aspects of work are under threat. Using data from a Belgian government agency, the findings show that teams with more overqualified employees report lower trust in change management, which increases qualitative job insecurity. The results highlight the paradox of overqualification and its implications for managing change.