No. 1/1999

• whether a high degree of overlap exists in the status of occupations taken up by second-level school-leavers and third-level graduates - particularly the nature and extent of "overqualification" amongst-third level graduates,
• how the poorly educated fare in the job market and
• how the functioning of the education system can be improved.

Examining the factors influencing the overall labour market experiences of school/college leavers, the authors single out the inflexibility of the Irish educational system. Part-time and second chance opportunities are limited, they state, and progression routes to higher education, particularly for poorly qualified school leavers, are inadequate. On the labour market front, the latter also face strong competition for unskilled jobs. Almost a third of school/college leavers experience emigration during their first six years in the labour market, while migration within Ireland involves a similar proportion.

A substantial overlap in the occupations entered in the early stages of careers by those with higher and lower level qualifications is observed. This overlap declines rapidly over time with those with higher level qualifications experiencing greater upward mobility through promotion or movement to better jobs. Substantial proportions of young people with Leaving Certificate and higher qualifications do, however, remain in jobs for which they appear "overqualified" (ca. 20%).

The overdependance of employers in the services sector of the economy - retail/wholesale, hotel and restaurant areas - on "overqualified" temporary and part-time labour - many of whom are non-nationals - with little need for training, has to be addressed. The report recommends a rapid expansion of apprenticeships and traineeships (see CEDEFOP Info 1/98) to enable the least qualified to advance/train.

Greater "institutional flexibility" in educational provision is the main recommendation of the report, that is flexibility in part-time provision, in facilitating mixing education/training courses, in cumulative credit arrangements, in greater integration of qualification systems and in progression routes to further education for the poorly qualified. These proposals are echoed in the recent Government Green Paper on Adult Education (see article New departure for adult education of this issue of CEDEFOP Info). Expansion of early school interventions to significantly reduce the level of educational failure and subsequent high levels of unemployment among deprived youth is similarly advocated.

* Hannan DF et al: Trading qualifications for jobs: overeducation and the Irish youth labour market. 1998. ISBN 1-86076-106-2. IR£ 16.95 (EUR 21.52). Available: Oak Tree Press, Merrion Building, Lower Merrion Street, IRL-Dublin 2). Tel: (353-1) 676 1600. Fax: (353-1) 676 1644
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Source: FAS