Association of education labor overmatch and health among U.S.-born and immigrant older adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study examines education-labor overmatch as a novel work-related exposure and its impact on health disparities among aging immigrants. Drawing on cumulative disadvantage theory, we argue that mismatches between educational attainment and occupational roles contribute to long-term health risks, exacerbating disparities later in life.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study ( = 19,587), we investigate the relationship between overmatch and stress-sensitive health outcomes across nativity.

RESULTS: Years of education overmatch was unassociated with health outcomes for U.S.-born workers, except for worse self-reported health (OR = 0.90, 95% CI [0.85, 0.96]). However, for immigrants, overmatch was positively associated with worse self-reported health (OR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.78, 0.98]), diabetes (OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.01, 1.28]), smoking (OR = 1.13, 95% CI [1.01, 1.26]), adiposity (OR = 1.15, 95% CI [1.01, 1.32]), and high blood pressure (OR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.05, 1.38]); income and insurance access attenuated the relationship of overmatch with self-reported health and smoking.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings contribute to a growing body of literature that highlights work experiences across the lifecourse as a critical determinant of immigrant health disparities. These insights underscore the need for labor policies that address skill utilization and mitigate long-term health consequences for immigrant populations.