Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Education-Occupation Mismatch Status Among Immigrants in South Africa and the United States

In this study, a comparative-international approach is used to examine race-ethnic disparities in education-occupation mismatch status among immigrants. Using data from the USA and South Africa, this study finds that immigrants are most likely to be undereducated, or have less schooling for their jobs, when their racial characteristics are similar to those of the local racial majority. Black immigrants in South Africa and White immigrants in the USA are the most likely to be undereducated. Having racial characteristics similar to those of the local racial majority is associated with a lower likelihood of overeducation among immigrants.