The Rector of the University of Jaén, Nicolás Ruiz Reyes, unveiled the UJA 2026 Employment Report, detailing graduate access to the job market. He described it as a "precise, objective, and rigorous radiography" of the situation. The data, compiled with the Social Security and the Argos Observatory, confirms that the "effort and talent" of the university community continue to yield "important results".
In an environment of "high complexity and constant transformation," Ruiz Reyes emphasized higher education's role as a "more crucial than ever pillar." Obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree is considered a "strategic tool" for entering the labor market with "greater guarantees of success and professional resilience".
The report also highlights the University of Jaén's position as the "main bulwark of the province in protecting and safeguarding our young population against unemployment." The Rector stressed the "exercise in transparency and accountability to the society we serve" that presenting these results represents, showcasing the UJA's progress in training "qualified professionals and upright citizens".
“"In a global and local environment of high complexity and constant transformation, higher education is consolidated as a more crucial pillar than ever."
Key findings for the 2023/2024 academic year show that 80.6% of the 3,014 graduates were active (employed or seeking employment) one year after graduation. This activity rate is an improvement from the previous year's 74%.
The unemployment rate among UJA graduates stands at 8.1%, significantly lower than the 10.6% from the previous report and the 19% recorded in 2018/2019. This contrasts with the youth unemployment rate in Andalusia (14%) and particularly in the province of Jaén, which nears 29% in the third quarter of 2025.
The employment integration rate for UJA graduates is 62.76%, a 3.5% increase from the previous year, meaning 6 out of 10 graduates are fully integrated into the labor market. This figure surpasses the average for the Andalusian Public University System.
“"For us, these figures are relevant because, in a scenario of increasingly limited resources, they demonstrate that our graduates have more and better options to access the labor market."
Employment integration increases with the level of study: 58.5% for bachelor's degrees (compared to the Andalusian average of 57%) and 69% for official master's degrees (compared to the Andalusian average of 64.2%).
The report also highlights an improvement in the quality of hiring, with contracts better matching professional qualifications, and a slight increase in full-time and permanent contracts. However, the Rector acknowledged that the job market in the province of Jaén "remains a complex terrain" and that "we still need to improve the data on full-time and permanent hiring."
Another identified challenge is entrepreneurship. Ruiz Reyes pointed to "overqualification" in Humanities and Experimental Sciences degrees, likening the training to a "'formative Ferrari'" that needs to be "exploited 100%" by Jaén's companies.
“"We have a 'formative Ferrari' and we cannot use it like a utility car. We need Jaén's companies to dare to fully exploit the high qualifications that come out of here."
Finally, the Rector stated that "betting on UJA's classrooms is a sure bet," emphasizing the institution's commitment to training "highly qualified, proactive professionals with a future vision," capable of being "the engine of transformation, innovation, and renewal" for the provincial economy.
