Introduction: The complex transition of higher education graduates into the labour market

Abstract

In recent decades, countries worldwide have experienced a significant expansion of higher education, albeit at different paces. This has led to a rapidly increasing supply of the skilled workforce. There are strong economic and social arguments behind the expansion of higher education as a driver of economic growth and for providing positive effects for individuals, firms, and society as a whole. However, some questions have been raised about the effects of this expansion for graduates and labour markets. In fact, studies in many countries have shown that the productive system has been unable to absorb this highly educated workforce, leading to growing levels of graduates’ overeducation, unemployment, underemployment, and job insecurity. This chapter introduces the discussion on the consequences of higher education expansion and massification for graduates’ labour markets and this book’s contribution to that debate.