Job market challenges for young graduates of technical courses

Purpose This research aimed to identify the factors that represent the difficulties that students in technical courses face when transitioning into the labor market. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the objective of this study, an electronic questionnaire with 33 statements associated with the difficulties faced by young technicians in entering the job market was administered and completed by 453 current students and alumni of technical courses. Findings Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to group the variables into four factors that indicated the behaviors and feelings of young technicians, lack of professional practice among students, and alignment problems with the productive market. These factors represent the difficulties faced by technical course students when entering the job market. Originality/value Existing studies on the subject are often dispersed and disconnected. Thus, grouping the variables into factors may facilitate understanding of this phenomenon. Findings can be used to guide institutions that offer technical courses to act on the factors that impede the transition of their students into the job market.