Members of a trade union enjoy a range of benefits compared to employees who do not belong to a labor representation. In a new study, forthcoming in Industrial Relations, Theresa Geißler and Laszlo Goerke document another advantage of membership. Their study is the first to show for Germany that union members are less likely to be overqualified—that is, they are less likely to hold a job that requires fewer qualifications than they possess. Additionally, union members are more likely to work in a position for which they are appropriately qualified.
The analyses by the two researchers from the IAAEU and the Trier University suggest that these advantages of union membership stem from a stronger bargaining position rather than from informational advantages. In 2023, Theresa Geißler received the PhD Paper Award at the yearly conference of the International Network for Economic Research for this project.
The analyses by the two researchers from the IAAEU and the Trier University suggest that these advantages of union membership stem from a stronger bargaining position rather than from informational advantages. In 2023, Theresa Geißler received the PhD Paper Award at the yearly conference of the International Network for Economic Research for this project.
