Employability of the Degree in Pedagogy in Spain: Beyond the School Environment

Abstract

In the present study, the changes that the field of Pedagogy has undergone are addressed, from a traditional paradigm focused on the school environment to the present moment. The objective of this research is to describe the employment situation of Pedagogy professionals, examining the correlation between their academic training and the opportunities and labor challenges they face. The methodology of this study focuses on a sample that exceeds a thousand Spanish pedagogues. The participants provided information through a questionnaire, about their current employment situation, fields of action, professional trajectory, and the degree of interaction with various curricular tools and practices. The results show that the labor insertion of professionals in Pedagogy is comparable to that of related degrees and describes a wide range of possibilities. The fields of social and labor Pedagogy, which have been experiencing notable growth in recent decades, acquire special relevance. Additionally, the study reveals gender inequalities with respect to job opportunities and shows a statistically significant correlation between the labor insertion rate and the unemployment rate by provinces and, finally, describes significant differences between the type of tools used in each area. The discussion raises the need for deeper research focused on the interrelation between university education in Pedagogy and the contemporary labor reality of graduates. Although university education continues to be a crucial element, its adaptation to the current labor reality suggests changes in the current study plans of the Faculties of Education.