Austria: postgraduates are plenty but overqualified

Paradoxically, the study, entitled “Between a Shortage of Tertiary Graduates and Precarious Employment,” published by a research institute answering to the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), doesn’t bring out what can be found in many international studies, i.e. a shortage of highly-skilled workers. The number of new graduates fresh out of college each year increased of 137.5%, going from 12,000 a year in 1990-91 to 28,500 a year in 2006-07. Between 1998 and 2001, the absolute number of graduates went from 198,000 in 2001 to 450,000 in 2008 (+127.3%). However, the study points to a growing phenomenon of overqualification, which means that there is a total appropriateness of training and the skills required for the job performed. In absolute numbers, this phenomenon affected 118,000 employees in 2008 as opposed to 35,500 only in 1991.
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ly-skilled workers. The number of new graduates fresh out of college each year increased of 137.5%, going from 12,000 a year in 1990-91 to 28,500 a year in 2006-07. Between 1998 and 2001, the absolute number of graduates went from 198,000 in 2001 to 450,000 in 2008 (+127.3%). However, the study points to a growing phenomenon of overqualification, which means that there is a total appropriateness of training and the skills required for the job performed. In absolute numbers, this phenomenon affe

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