“Não vou dizer que foi ruim, também não foi tão bom assim”: trajetória ocupacionais de jovens com ensino superior no Brasil (1997, 2008 e 2019)

Abstract

This thesis investigates how the expansion of higher education in Brazil over the last three decades has impacted the occupational trajectories and earnings of university-educated youth. Situated within the field of Social Stratification, this research engages with the Sociology of Youth and Occupations, recognizing that increased schooling does not eliminate inequalities in labor market insertion, which are shaped by race, gender, and occupational segmentation. The study examines how a university degree influences work opportunities and wage returns for young adults aged 24 to 34 in the years 1997, 2008, and 2019. It further analyzes whether there have been changes in the occupational and income profiles of this population over time and seeks to understand the role of more institutionalized occupations in the reproduction or mitigation of inequalities. The methodological approach combines quantitative data, utilizing descriptive statistics and multivariate models based on the construction of Micro Classes, which allow for a more refined analysis of occupations. This study contributes to the debate on educational credentials, occupational mobility, and persistent inequalities in the Brazilian labor market.