Honduras: social factors associates with youth labor market integration (2014-2024)

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to analyze the social factors that facilitate or hinder the labor market integration of young people at three key points in time: 2014, 2019, and 2024. Using a quantitative approach and data from the Permanent Multipurpose Household Survey (EPHPM), a multinomial logistic regression model was applied to estimate the probability of belonging to one of four employment condition categories among youth: employed, visibly underemployed, invisibly underemployed, and inactive. This estimation was based on variables such as sex, educational level, marital status, household headship, geographic area, and age group. Among the main findings, the increase in the educational attainment of the youth population during the analyzed period stands out, which contrasts with the stagnation of the percentage of young people without employment problems and the increase in underemployment, particularly invisible underemployment. Young men who are heads of household, have higher education, and reside in urban areas are more likely to be employed without employment problems. In contrast, young women—especially those who are not heads of household, have low educational levels, and live in rural areas—face greater risks of exclusion or precarious labor market integration.