Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis - ECU Access Only

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Honours

School

School of Psychology and Social Science

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

First Supervisor

Associate Professor Lynne Cohen

Abstract

The purpose of the current paper is to provide a complete, critical review of the literature that explores the underemployment phenomenon. Underemployment occurs in various guises, but generally refers to a lower quality of employment relative to a past employment situation or a prescribed standard of comparison. This review initially provides a brief overview of the four major theoretical perspectives of underemployment and the five main dimensions used within the literature. The review then outlines the various definitions and measures for each of these dimensions, as well as the consequences each can have on the individuals experiencing them. The antecedents of underemployment are also discussed, and implications for future research are provided. Limitations of underemployment research studies are discussed throughout this review.

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