According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Mexico has one of the lowest employment rates among university graduates. In light of this situation, Marcela Guerra emphasized the importance of providing young people with the necessary tools to access better job opportunities and contribute to the country's economic development, highlighting that youth talent is crucial for Mexico's global competitiveness.
The National Graduate Survey 2023 conducted by the University of the Valley of Mexico reveals that 41.8% of young people face difficulties in securing their first job due to a lack of work experience. In this context, Guerra's proposal aims to have students' social service recognized as mandatory work experience, with the purpose of facilitating their transition to the labor market upon completing their studies.
The PRI legislator highlights that the lack of professional experience is the main challenge faced by recent graduates in their job search. Therefore, her initiative proposes that educational authorities and higher education institutions provide a certificate of accreditation for the social service performed, which must be accepted by any employer, thus eliminating barriers for young people.
Marcela Guerra argues that social service, being mandatory to obtain a professional degree, should be utilized as a tool to support young people in their labor insertion. According to data from the National Occupation and Employment Survey, 46% of young people in Mexico are part of the economically active population, and a considerable percentage point out that low salaries, lack of benefits, and scarcity of vacancies are obstacles to their labor insertion.
Given this issue, federal deputy Marcela Guerra Castillo presented an initiative in the Chamber of Deputies to reform Article 15 of the General Law of Higher Education, with the aim of promoting the inclusion of social service as mandatory work experience for university students.
