Underemployment defined

The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines an underemployed individual as: someone over the age of 15 “who desires, and is available for, additional working hours”.

I define it a little differently: working in a lower paid job than
qualifications and/or experience would suggest the worker is suited to

Underemployment can be a tricky thing to measure as often people don't want to admit that they are underemployed or overqualified.

Sometimes it can happen because you have qualifications from a different country that aren't recognised in Australia.

Sometimes it can happen because of the stories you hold that keep you from applying for the job you really want and are qualified for.

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel you just can't get where you want to be, it might be time to check your story.