Calidad de empleo en Ecuador: Evidencia por grupos de edad.

Abstract

Abstract: The Ecuadorian labor market presents structural inequalities associated with informality, underemployment, and precariousness differentiated by age, generating a decent work deficit that INEC (National Institute of Statistics and Censuses) indicators fail to capture qualitatively. This study analyzes employment quality in Ecuador by age groups and is justified by the scarce quantitative evidence regarding employment quality according to age. A cross-sectional quantitative approach is adopted using microdata from the 2024 ENEMDU (National Survey of Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment) by means of the Employment Quality Index (EQI). The results reveal generalized structural precariousness in Ecuador, with a national EQI reaching 29.88 points, which is classified as low-quality employment. The continuity of gaps in social security vulnerability and job instability is verified in the final stage of productive life. The gap between salaried and independent workers exceeds 33 points, with disparities by gender and area of residence. First-employment programs, incentives for older workers, and differentiated formalization strategies are recommended. Future research should utilize longitudinal panel designs to track individual EQI trajectories throughout the labor cycle.