De la formación universitaria al empleo: desajustes, redes y trayectorias de graduados en turismo y hostelería en Honduras

Resumen

Introduction: The transition from university to employment is an indicator of curricular relevance, particularly in degree programs linked to sectors affected by seasonality, informality, and economic crises. Objective: To analyze how university education, experience gained during undergraduate studies, and mechanisms for accessing employment shape the career trajectories of Tourism and Hospitality graduates in Honduras, as well as their implications for educational management. Method: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. Using non-probability snowball sampling, 42 graduates from the Francisco Morazán National Pedagogical University were surveyed. The questionnaire, validated through pilot testing and expert judgment, examined education, labor market entry, mobility, employment status, income, and satisfaction. Frequencies and percentages were calculated using SPSS 29, while open-ended responses were organized thematically. Results: During their undergraduate studies, 47.6% of participants were employed, but only 14.3% worked in tourism or hospitality. A total of 47.6% obtained their first job within one to three months of graduation, whereas 23.8% took more than six months or had never worked. At the time of the study, 16.7% were unemployed and 21.4% worked part-time. Only 21% worked in hospitality, travel agencies, or food services, while 24% taught at the secondary education level. Furthermore, 69.05% gained access to employment through personal contacts or relationship-based mechanisms. Conclusions: The findings revealed relatively rapid labor market entry, occupational mismatch, wage segmentation, and dependence on social capital. Strengthening curriculum-integrated internships, university employment services, graduate tracking, and continuing education aligned with sectoral needs is recommended.