Understanding the city as an analytical lens for career development: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The local peculiarities that govern labor relations influence individuals’ agency in their career trajectories. The study of cities as a context in which careers develop has received little attention from scholars, highlighting a research gap based on understanding the city as a new analytical level. This study aims to analyze how international literature articulates the constructs of careers and cities from human capital, ecosystems, innovation, and sustainable development perspectives. Through a systematic literature review using the Web of Science database and the Iramuteq® software, we examine 42 previous studies in four main categories: city livability and attractiveness, labor market and mobility, organizational work and expatriation, and educational system. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we present four assumptions to foster future empirical research. As contributions, this study put together areas with a little academic approach, opening spaces for deeper investigations and fruitful possibilities for scholars, urban planners, and policymakers. We conclude that career management is not just an individual endeavor but part of a wide ecosystem that must be analyzed collectively, within the scope of employability, labor market, educational system, talent, human capital, attractiveness, and livability, demanding integrated actions and partnerships between the individuals and public and private sectors.