JOB MISMATCHES AMONG INDIGENOUS WORKERS IN CANADA:

FINDINGS FROM PIAAC DATA

Abstract

Using data from the Programme for the International Assessment
of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), this study examined
skill-job mismatches among Indigenous workers in Canada.
Skill mismatches (over-skilled or under-skilled conditions)
were based on direct measures of skill competencies in numeracy
and literacy provided by PIAAC data.
On average, Indigenous workers were more likely to be under-
skilled, and less likely to be over-skilled, than their non-Indigenous
counterparts. These findings may be explained by
the fact that the level of education and the skill scores of Indigenous
workers were significantly lower than those of non-Indigenous
workers. When education was controlled, however,
there were no differences in being under- or over-skilled in literacy
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers. That
is, education level played an important role in determining
skill levels as well as job mismatches.
Certain job-related conditions were associated with the likelihood
of job mismatch among Indigenous workers. Compared
to full-time workers, part-time Indigenous workers
were more likely to be over-skilled; compared with employees,
self-employed Indigenous workers were less likely to be
under-skilled; and a higher level of skill-job mismatches were
found among Indigenous workers who majored in the field of
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in
their post-secondary education than their non-STEM counterparts.