Territorial Inequalities in Job Quality in Ecuador: Empirical Evidence from the Province of Esmeraldas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18779/csye.v10i2.1257Keywords:
labour market, informal employment, regional inequality, sustainable developmentAbstract
The study of territorial inequalities in the labor market is essential for understanding the limitations of inclusive development in developing economies, where aggregate indicators tend to conceal persistent structural gaps. In this context, this article aims to analyze territorial inequalities in employment quality in Ecuador, with an emphasis on the province of Esmeraldas during the 2018–2024 period. A quantitative approach is adopted, with a descriptive–analytical scope and a non-experimental longitudinal design. The research is based on data from the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment (ENEMDU), considering the economically active population at both the national and provincial levels as the study population. Variables such as adequate employment, underemployment, and informality are analyzed, and territorial gaps are estimated through comparisons between the national average and Esmeraldas. The results show that post-pandemic employment recovery has been territorially uneven, characterized by persistent and increasing informality in Esmeraldas, as well as lower levels of adequate employment compared with the national average. These gaps have not only persisted but also tended to widen during certain periods. The article concludes that employment growth does not necessarily guarantee improvements in job quality, and that the persistence of territorial inequalities constitutes an obstacle to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 10. This highlights the need for public policies aimed at labor formalization and inclusive territorial development.
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