Capital Humano e Ganhos Pessoais e Profissionais de Egressos do Ensino Superior

José Roberto Abreu de Carvalho Junior; Wescley Silva Xavier; Cássia Cristina de Almeida Rodrigues

doi:10.5020/2318-0722.2026.32.e16513

Authors

José Roberto Abreu de Carvalho Junior Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6016-3667
Wescley Silva Xavier Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3524-3566
Cássia Cristina de Almeida Rodrigues Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6049-6282

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/2318-0722.2026.32.e16513

Keywords:

postgraduate studies, students, higher education, labor market, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the article was to analyze the influence of human capital on the personal and professional gains of graduates from Brazilian higher education institutions. To this end, we applied a questionnaire to a significant sample of 11,458 graduates from 18 Brazilian federal universities. We conducted four Multinomial Logistic Regressions and two Ordinal Logistic Regressions where the dependent variables were occupation, remuneration, improvement in personal life, improvement in the family's economic situation, inspiration for family members, and inspiration for the community of the graduates, and the independent variable was human capital, represented by the type of study they pursued after graduation. The results suggest that, in general, higher education positively affects the economic and non-economic gains of graduates, through the achievement of better jobs and remuneration, improvement in personal life and family economic situation, and a positive spillover effect for family members and the community. Specifically, postgraduate specialization (lato sensu) appears to be the type of study that provides the best returns for professionals. It is concluded that human capital is an asset that appreciates substantially in the Brazilian context. Although all postgraduate degrees generally contribute positively, lato sensu specialization is particularly effective in providing better personal and professional returns for graduates.

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Author Biographies

José Roberto Abreu de Carvalho Junior, Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

PhD in Business Administration, Master’s in Public Management, Specialist in Public Management, Specialist in Strategic People Management, and Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Currently, he is an Administrator at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (Ifes) - Alegre Campus.

Wescley Silva Xavier, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD in Business Administration, Master’s in Business Administration, and Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Currently, he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Administration and Accounting at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV). He is an associate editor for the journal Organizações & Sociedade (O&S) and the Revista de Estudios Políticos y Estratégicos.

Cássia Cristina de Almeida Rodrigues, Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Specialist in Sanitary Surveillance and Food Quality Control and Bachelor’s in Nutrition. Currently pursuing a Postgraduate (Lato Sensu) Specialization in Technology and Quality in Food Production at the Federal University of Alfenas (Unifal). Currently, she is a Nutritionist at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (Ifes) – Alegre Campus.

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