Fernandes, Joana M.S.R.Esteves, Salete2026-02-252026-02-252025Fernandes, J.M.S.R. ; Esteves, S. (2025). Reassessing Master’s Program Dropouts in Tourism: Is the Labor Market Failing to Compensate for the Effort?. In Advances in Tourism, Technology and Systems. ICOTTS 2024. Springer: Singapore. ISSN 2190-3018. 441, p. 293-304978-981965395-92190-3018http://hdl.handle.net/10198/35861Each year, more students are enrolling in postgraduate degree pro-grams. However, many students will fail to complete the degree and drop out. Dropout results in economic and psychological repercussions and potentially hin-ders career advancement. Despite increasing enrolment in postgraduate pro-grams, existing studies predominantly focus on the undergraduate level. Still, master's students, assumed to possess maturity and experience, exhibit lower completion rates. This study focuses on master's students in tourism, a critical sector for countries reliant on skilled professionals. The research aims to eluci-date the factors influencing dropout decisions and students' perceptions regarding the economic implications. Findings suggest that motivation for pursuing a mas-ter's degree in tourism is often driven more by personal satisfaction than purely financial considerations. Furthermore, these graduates may not receive the ex-pected recognition for their advanced qualifications upon entering the labour market. As such, comprehensive analysis in tourism education is imperative to address dropout issues effectively and better align educational outcomes with job market demands.engconference paper10.1007/978-981-96-5396-6_25