Employability skills in the educational context: A systematic review
Competencias de empleabilidad en el contexto educativo: Una revisión sistemáticaMain Article Content
Background: Youth employability is a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by the mismatch between academic training and the demands of a labor market reshaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital transformation. Objective: This study aimed to examine the implications of employability skills within educational frameworks, identifying emerging trends, existing gaps, and effective pedagogical strategies for their development across various educational levels. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The Scopus and SciELO databases were queried (2020–2025) using the search string "employability skills" AND "students," resulting in a final selection of 20 peer-reviewed articles for analysis. Results: Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving emerged as the most frequently cited competencies (identified in 90%, 80%, and 75% of the studies, respectively). The findings indicate that the synergy between hard and soft skills significantly enhances professional performance, although a substantial gap persists between institutional instruction and labor market requirements. Conclusion: Successful labor market integration necessitates a balanced combination of technical proficiency and transversal skills. It is imperative to modernize curricula, foster cross-sectoral partnerships, and provide ongoing professional development for educators.
Contexto: La empleabilidad juvenil es un desafío global, agravado por la brecha entre la formación académica y las demandas de un mercado laboral transformado por la Cuarta Revolución Industrial y la digitalización. Objetivo: El estudio se propuso analizar las implicancias de las competencias de empleabilidad en el contexto educativo, identificando tendencias, brechas y estrategias efectivas para su desarrollo en los diferentes niveles formativos. Metodología: Se realizó una revisión sistemática siguiendo la metodología PRISMA. Se consultaron Scopus y Scielo (2020-2025) con los términos "employability skills" AND "students", seleccionando 20 artículos para el análisis. Resultados: La comunicación, el trabajo en equipo y la resolución de problemas fueron las competencias más citadas (90%, 80% y 75% de los estudios). La sinergia entre habilidades duras y blandas potencia el desempeño profesional, aunque persiste una brecha significativa entre la enseñanza y las exigencias laborales. Conclusión: El éxito de inserción laboral requiere combinar dominio técnico con habilidades transversales, actualizar currículos, establecer alianzas intersectoriales y capacitar docentes continuamente.
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