The greater interest in studying social sciences and the lesser inclination for training in technical or scientific areas may be partly because of the preference of professionals for employment in a government institution rather than in the private sector.
According to data from the National Council of Rectors (Conare), between 2006 and 2016, in Costa Rica the careers in the area of Social Sciences registered the highest growth according to the proportion of graduates, going from 36.2% to 45.5% of the total number of students.
Among the professionals most required by companies in Guatemala, but the most difficult to find, are computer technicians, engineers in mining and construction, and professionals with doctorates in coffee and other agricultural products.
The study entitled "Talent Gaps 2017", prepared by the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (Fundesa), details that the academic profile required by employers can be summarized by the fact that 65% of companies need staff with qualifications, 68% of employees with a technical level, and 75% of companies require professionals with a bachelor's degree.
Between 300 thousand and 500 thousand professionals in different areas are estimated to be needed in order to cover the jobs that could be generated in the next ten years.
Panama's economic growth potential can not be fully developed if the necessary conditions are not developed, one of which is the quality of the labor supply.
In Costa Rica, the Ministry of Finance has announced that it will intensify controls on tax returns submitted by professionals in activities such as medicine, law and accounting, among others.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
As part of the control actions carried out by the General Department of Taxation (DGT), this month a campaign was launched to monitor the professional sector which includes sending out more than 25 thousand messages.
In Nicaragua there is an oversupply of young professionals who have postgraduate studies, but who lack the work experience that the companies require.
Generally companies demand professionals with masters degrees when they need to occupy high-level positions, where work experience and goals achieved in previous positions are the main differentiating factor.One of the problems that stands out in Nicaragua is the presence of a lot of young professionals with masters degrees, but who lack experience that is specifically demanded the contracting companies.
Clearly identifying the direct and indirect costs is the first step forward in the process of defining how much professionals should charge for their services when practicing independently.
Ariel Baños, Economist Founder of Fijaciondeprecios.com:
How much is my job worth?
A major challenge for those who work independently or freelance is to define the price of their services. Identifying key elements to take into account is the first step.
42,000 is the number of estimated positions for professionals and technicians that will become available with the start of major projects such as the construction of the gas terminal in Colon, the fourth bridge over the Canal and the second Metro line.
Statistics from the Ministry of Labour and Development indicate that the largest proportion of the jobs required correspond to technical and unskilled workers, and to a lesser extent, professionals.
Nicaraguan companies are having difficulty finding employees who are 24 years old or younger with the required socio-emotional and academic skills.
From the executive summary of a document entitled "Skills required by companies in Nicaragua" prepared by Funides:
Studies have been done at the international level that have found no relationship between years of education and economic growth, which has led to the discussion turning from schooling to the quality of education as a key element for economic growth.
In Costa Rica most college students crave "fixed and stable jobs" in state enterprises.
EDITORIAL
The words "fixed" and "stable" are not exactly what you would expect to hear from young twentysomethings, supposedly eager for challenges, opportunities and adventures.However, in Costa Rica, a survey carried out by Universum indicates that most college students are looking for a job for life in a state institution.
For every ten professionals in demand by private companies in Costa Rica between 2014 and 2016, 7 were computer and software engineers.
The growing demand for professionals in careers related to engineering, especially in the area of computing and software development, contrasts increasingly with the demand for professionals in other disciplines, such as social work, which are losing ground as the use of information technologies advances.
Sales, operations and production are the areas in which Guatemalan entrepreneurs face the most difficulties in recruiting staff with the necessary skills.
Leadership, the ability to make decisions and to identify and solve problems are the skills most required by companies in Guatemala, and the most difficult ones to find when hiring staff.
The Treasury will be reviewing the tax returns of a selected group of taxpayers by comparing the information provided with their external signs of wealth.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
Proposal to attack evasion in this group of taxpayers
The acquisition of luxury vehicles in recent years as well as possesing properties of high value, in juxterposition to statements with zero tax (in which no taxes are paid) or expenses that exceed a certain percentage of revenue during 2014 are some of the reasons why the Ministry of Finance is initiating a plan of tax control for freelance professionals.
The Directorate General of Taxation of Costa Rica has been given the power to require professionals to provide information which is "foreseeably relevant for tax purposes".
An article in Nacion.com reports that "... "An institutional criteria of the Ministry of Finance, of July 27, 2015, states that the Directorate General of Taxation (DGT) has the power to require liberal professionals to provide confidential customer information, as long as the data is not related to the query made of the specialist. "
An economist is a professional who divides his daily work into two stages: in the morning he explains what went wrong yesterday, and in the afternoon he explains what is happening today.
EDITORIAL
The title of this article with which we are aiming to start the wind down to the weekend (friday 26th), contains words that used to shine in bronze -years ago- on the desk of a then young economist at the central bank of a south american country, a high quality professional who now holds a first class post in that nation.
Companies are struggling to find employees with skills in information technology, programming and networking, electricity, processing and assembly of medical parts.
The Talent Shortage study (2014) by Manpower notes that "... 51% of the 620 Costa Rican employers surveyed said they can not find suitable professionals to perform the tasks required by their company." The main cause, according to the contractors, is lack of technical skills.
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