Labor situation of graduates of the degrees of Psychology and Teaching of Psychology of the University of Costa Rica

Abstract

Knowing the impact that the university educational offer has on the labor market and the professional location of the graduate population, allows strengthening the quality of teaching and decision-making on the academic offer. Given this situation, the careers of Psychology and Psychology Teaching at the University of Costa Rica, developed an investigation whose objective was to deepen the labor situation, professional formation and training needs of its graduates from the period 2012-2017. For this, in 2019 an ad hoc questionnaire was applied to 265 people. Among the results, high percentages of employment are observed for graduates in Psychology and Psychology Teaching, but also high percentages of underemployment for two groups. There is low satisfaction with the work situation in all three groups, which they consider could improve by obtaining a higher academic degree or more experience, two main requirements to choose a position. In the case of training needs, Occupational and Health Psychology, as well as teaching, are the main areas identified, which also correspond to the main areas of insertion for this sample.

Key Words: Professional person, Psychology, Education professionals, Training, Employment, Income.