Progress in Research on Self-Perceived Employability and Well-being among Spanish University Students

Actualidad

Progress in Research on Self-Perceived Employability and Well-being among Spanish University Students

By Transición Adultez 0

The recent progress of Reyes Vargas’s doctoral thesis was presented at the Summer School of the Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Seville. This research, conducted within the framework of the Transition to Adulthood in Spain (TAE) Project, analyzes the factors influencing the entry of university students into the labor market.

The Concept of Self-Perceived Employability

Self-perceived employability (SPE) is defined as an individual’s own assessment of their possibilities for obtaining and maintaining sustainable employment. This construct consists of two fundamental dimensions:

  • Internal Dimension: Linked to personal skills and resources.
  • External Dimension: Related to the perception of opportunities provided by the labor market.

Key Research Findings

Through a longitudinal analysis of university students, the following conclusions have been drawn:

  • Demographic and Academic Differences: Findings indicate that men show higher levels of external and overall employability than women. Furthermore, students in Engineering and Architecture exhibit the highest levels of perceived employability, while those in Arts and Humanities report the lowest.
  • The Importance of Family Support: Perceived family support was identified as the social factor most consistently associated with employability. This support is not only linked to a more positive view of the labor market but also contributes to an increase in internal employability (confidence in personal resources) over time.
  • Link to Psychological Adjustment: A bidirectional relationship was found between employability and flourishing (psychological well-being). Notably, internal employability is the most significant dimension for explaining increases in personal well-being. Conversely, it was found that the presence of prior psychological distress can predict lower confidence in future labor market opportunities.

Practical Implications

The results highlight that university education should not be limited solely to the acquisition of degrees. There is clear evidence of the need to strengthen personal confidence and social support networks as key elements for a successful transition to the professional world.

The Transition to Adulthood in Spain (TAE) Project relies on the joint institutional collaboration of researchers from the Universidad de Sevilla, the Escuela Universitaria de Osuna (an affiliated center of the Universidad de Sevilla), and the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea.

Proyect PID2024-155825NB-I00 financed by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE