Skill Mismatch and Job Satisfaction in a Japanese Company Revised

Abstract

This paper replicates models developed by our previous research to study the effects of skill mismatch on job satisfaction. Over-skilling （Under-skilling） refers to the mismatch wherein an individual has higher （lower） skills than that required for his/her current job. Using the original panel survey data, our results confirm our earlier work, showing that the effects of over-skilling on job satisfaction is negative. At the same time, our results also confirm that persons whose skill is less than the required skill for their job by a small measure receive significantly higher job satisfaction than their correctly placed colleagues. Furthermore, there is no significant difference between persons whose skill is less than the required skill for their job by large measures and person who their correctly placed colleagues. This suggests that under-skilling by small measures becomes an important opportunity to gain experience through actual work practice.