Material and symbolic value of occupations with different requirements levels

The long-term trend is that a considerable increase in higher education study entrants is observable in Germany. The present article analyses the value of occupations for which degree-level study is necessary compared to occupations typically requiring completion of VET, upgrading training or even no formal vocational qualification at all. The (in)equivalence of these occupations is investigated on the basis of wages and prestige, both of which play a part in individual career choice and work motivation as well as in company recruitment.