Jan Heisig|Maurice Gesthuizen|Heike Solga
Lack of skills or formal qualifications? New evidence on cross-country differences in the labor market disadvantage of less-educated adults
WZB Berlin Social Science Center|Radboud University Nijmegen|WZB Berlin Social Science Center|Freie Universität Berlin
use piaac data literacy numeracy skills 49366 25to54yearolds 27 countries shed new light crossnational variation labor market disadvantage lesseducated adults ie completed upper secondary education empirical analysis focuses occupational status gap lesseducated adults degree upper secondary level yields three main findings first individuallevel differences literacy numeracy skills important source crossnational variation labor market inequalities educational attainment substantial gaps occupational status remain even accounting individuals actual skills sociodemographics second remaining occupational status gap rises countrys level skills transparency ie extent formal qualifications informative actual skills labor market gaps increase skills gap two educational groups increases withingroup distribution skills becomes homogeneous third country differences skills transparency seem primary mediating channel inequalityenhancing effect tracking secondary education found previous research