To what extent are ethnic minorities in Britain over‐educated?

Abstract

For the total population there is evidence of substantial over‐education in the sense that workers possess higher qualifications than are strictly required for the job. Using the fourth wave of the British National Survey of Ethnic Minorities, this paper attempts to ascertain whether ethnic minorities suffer from higher over‐education than whites due to possible discrimination. The results suggest a differential effect across various ethnic groups and a tendency for foreign qualifications to be rewarded less.