Career Pathways of Portuguese Tourism Graduates: Is the tourism sector capitalizing on the qualified human resources?

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3426_THoR13.20

Authors: Carlos Costa, Sandra Caçador, Inês Carvalho and Zélia Breda

Abstract: This study examines the career pathways of Portuguese tourism graduates, in particular the differences between the employment situation of those graduates who are employed in the tourism sector and those who are working outside this sector. Salaries, working hours and schedules, contractual situation, hierarchical position and job satisfaction of tourism graduates working in and outside the tourism sector are compared. Data suggest that the tourism sector is not capitalizing the qualified human resources available. In addition, data provide empirical evidence for the fact that tourism graduates working outside the tourism sector are facing poorer employment conditions comparatively to those that are absorbed by the tourism industry.

Keywords: higher education, tourism, graduate employment, Portugal