The Mismatched Worker: When People Don't Fit Their Jobs

Executive Overview1 When people's jobs match their needs, preferences, and abilities, they are likely to be relatively happy and satisfied with their work and lives, and workplaces are apt to function fairly smoothly and effectively. On the other hand, when there is a mismatch, or lack of fit, a variety of difficulties are likely to result for workers and their families as well as for employers and society. Mismatches have become more common in the United States in the past several decades, due in large part to the pressures on companies to be more competitive, increased skill requirements, and the growing diversity of the labor force. Here we look at some of the major changes in labor markets that have led to seven types of mismatches between workers and jobs in the U.S. and discuss their implications.