Calidad de empleo en Guatemala: evidencia por grupos de edad

Abstract

Abstract: One of the main challenges facing Latin American labor markets is the quality of employment, particularly in economies where high levels of informality and low productivity prevail, such as Guatemala. In this context, this study aims to analyze the quality of employment in Guatemala by age group. A quantitative methodology with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design was applied, using data from the 2021 National Employment and Income Survey. To assess job quality, the multidimensional job quality index proposed by Farné was used, combining two weighting approaches: horizontal and vertical. The results showed that the employed labor force is working under precarious conditions, as job quality in Guatemala stood at 23.10; self-employed workers, particularly women, were found to be the most vulnerable. Furthermore, it was found that age is a factor that has a relatively significant influence on job quality, with better conditions observed among workers aged 35 to 49, without any reduction in job insecurity. In conclusion, the main problem prevailing in Guatemala s labor market is not the lack of job opportunities, but rather the low quality of jobs, which stems from structural factors such as the high rate of informality and low productivity levels.