Formación universitaria y su incidencia en el desarrollo social y económico de jóvenes en Guayaquil

Abstract

Young people in the city of Guayaquil, in a context characterized by job precarity, Underemployment and the disconnect between academic supply and labour market demands. The study’s rationale is based on the need to examine whether higher education continues to play an effective role as a means of social and economic mobility, given the growing uncertainty about its real return in the current environment. The main objective was to determine how university training affects job insertion, employment conditions, income, stability and the perception of social mobility of young people from Guayaquil. The methodology adopted a quantitative approach, supported by the hypothetical-deductive and analytical method, through the application of structured surveys to a representative sample of 385 young people aged 18-29 living in the city of Guayaquil. The main results show that although university education is socially valued and facilitates access to contact networks, it does not guarantee better economic conditions or job stability in an equitable manner. It was also identified that factors such as previous work experience, personal connections and practical skills influence access to job opportunities more than academic merit. In conclusion, , it is determined that higher education has weakened its role as a factor ensuring socio-economic progress, reproducing structural inequalities and limiting youth social mobility.