Final Year Project

Project Title

Social Capital and Labor Market Outcomes in Urban Pakistan

Description

The research aims to determine how social networks influence employment outcomes and whether reliance on personal connections reinforces systemic inequalities. It also seeks to identify structural barriers faced by marginalized groups, particularly women and rural migrants, in accessing professional networks. 62.3% of surveyed individuals secured jobs through personal connections, while only 37.7% used formal job search methods. Those who used social capital had higher job stability (72%), better income prospects (57.4% earned more than PKR 50,000), and greater job satisfaction (63.2%). Women and rural migrants struggle to access professional networks, limiting their career opportunities. Employers prefer referrals over merit-based hiring, reinforcing systemic inequality.