Can i still dream of a decent work? the interplay of economic constraints, perceived employability, and social support

Abstract Guided by the school-to-work transition (STWT) model, this study examined how economic constraints affect university students’ perceptions of future decent work, with perceived employability as a mediator and social support as a moderator. Using a cross-sectional survey of 652 students, results showed that economic constraints negatively predicted both employability and decent work perceptions. Employability partially mediated this relationship, while social support moderated the effect of economic constraints on employability. These findings underscore the importance of contextual and psychosocial factors in shaping students’ vocational outlooks and offer insights for career counseling practices targeting economically disadvantaged youth.