Aligning hard skills demands between Brazilian universities and the labor market: A conceptual model for bridging the gap

Abstract

Unemployment is a global issue that impacts millions of people. Some studies identify the lack of hard skills as a significant barrier to entering or re-entering the labor market. It can also hinder job retention and limit opportunities for promotions and salary increases. Taking this scenario into consideration, this article proposes a strategy to address unemployment caused by the lack of hard skills, specifically targeting higher education students. This paper proposes a conceptual model designed for future implementation, which integrates university educational programs with the hard skills demanded by job openings in Brazil. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review was performed, leading to the development and description of the conceptual model. The theoretical findings highlight the originality of this study, with the conceptual model serving as a preliminary step toward better aligning university programs with labor market needs through more targeted planning of higher education offerings.