Almost 37% of university students work below their qualifications
Thanks to the university, young people receive valuable training that prepares them for the world of work. Some knowledge that makes them candidates for the different jobs that are offered. But do these university students end up attaching themselves to a position that fits their academic curriculum?
From the Knowledge and Development Foundation It warns that there is a high percentage that does not. A trend that has increased in the last year and that places Spain as a country that exceeds the average percentage of university students in positions for which they are overqualified.
Increase in the trend
The new report of the Knowledge and Development Foundation figures in a 36,8% the number of university students who in 2016 held a position for which they were overqualified. Data that means an increase compared to 34.4% in 2015. The EU's average remains further, which is estimated at 23%.
This report also points to a trend that has increased in recent years: excessive overqualification. Around 8.8% of university students in Spain during 2016 they worked in a job for which no type of preparation was required. Elementary works that are far from the higher studies they did in faculties and schools.
Dividing by sexes, overqualification is more present mens. The figures for university males in positions of this type of position are 35.1%, while in the case of women the figure drops to 33.9%. Considering those jobs that do not require any type of study, the difference is even higher 12.1% in boys compared to 8.8% in girls.
Young people are aware
This is not the only study which has focused on overqualification in the youngest. Another work presented in the course "The answer of the universities to the needs of a labor market in deep transformation" figure in a 41.7% the number of university students that are considered with an excessive preparation for the job in which they are developing today.
On the other side of the board, the Employers, the feeling is liked with respect to the qualification of the new workers. The companies point out that the learning received by the university students they hire is very positive. That yes, this satisfaction is not total and they point to the languages, the capacity of resolution of conflicts and a better application in the practice of theoretical contents like the points that should be improved in the currículum.
Regarding the training of students, the 70% of the Spaniards indicates that the mission of the universities must be to train students and turn them into "good professionals". Therefore, from this foundation, higher education centers are called to increase the practical contents so that students can be integrated into a more real environment during their training.
Damián Montero
