Overqualified, still satisfied? Revisiting job satisfaction among overqualified migrants

Overqualification – possessing qualifications exceeding job requirements – is a persistent challenge in many high-income countries and disproportionately affects migrant workers. However, little is known about how migrants’ overqualification influences their job satisfaction across different groups. Using the Labour Force Survey and Heckman selection models, this study examines these dynamics in Italy – a revealing case given its relatively recent migration history, rapidly ageing population, and highly segmented labour market – while also speaking to broader debates on migrant integration in contemporary destination countries. Specifically, we analyse (1) differences in overqualification risks between natives and migrants across age-at-arrival groups, and (2) how the association between overqualification and job satisfaction varies with age at arrival. The latter is a crucial factor since it captures migrants’ exposure to host-country education and institutional contexts. Results show that migrants, especially those arriving after age 18, face substantially higher risks of overqualification. Yet the negative association between overqualification and job satisfaction is markedly weaker among them. This ‘overqualification–job satisfaction paradox’ may reflect psychological adaptation, differing comparison standards, or selective attrition from the labour market. Overall, the findings highlight mechanisms that enrich our understanding of how structural disadvantages and subjective experiences interact in shaping migrant labour market integration.