Project CEMAPRE internal
| Title | Determinants of Higher Education Graduates economic outcomes The case of ISEG´ Higher Education Graduates |
| Participants | Graça Leão Fernandes (Principal Investigator), Margarida Chagas Lopes |
| Summary | New enrolments in Higher Education (HE) in Portugal have been growing with small up and down variations since the end of the economic crisis in 2016/17. The same is true for the number of graduates. This growth impacts the HE graduates' economic outcomes in the labor market, meaning employment and earnings. It increases the time until getting the first job, transition patterns become more uncertain and reduces the advantage in wages compared to HE graduates in the past. Changes in the time it takes to get a first job negatively affect skill accumulation and induce a loss of human capital acquired at HE institutions, representing a waste for individuals as well as for society. At the same time, awareness has been growing that promoting graduates' employment not only concerns them and their employers but also involves higher education (HE) institutions and public policies. Therefore, HE institutions have been developing quality and certification policies, in which graduates' employment is important as an indicator of effectiveness and efficiency. The effectiveness of these career and placement strategies has been less studied, Understanding the role of distinct factors that affect the transition from the University to the job market is, therefore, vital to increasing efficiency in resource use and ensuring society's well-being. |