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A study published in Education Economics says labor overqualification in Ecuador rose from about 24% in 2007 to nearly 40% in 2024. Researchers tied to the University of Cuenca and Catholic University of Cuenca say the problem reflects a labor market that is not absorbing young professionals into jobs aligned with their training.

The Festival Tierras Vivas 2026 lands at the Portal Artesanal on June 26 and 27 with agroecology fairs, Inti Raymi ceremonies, native seed exchanges, and ancestral cooking demos. Free admission. Bring a reusable bag.

Cuenca officials say urban bus service has returned to its usual schedules after a meeting between acting mayor Marisol Peñaloza and representatives of the city’s seven urban bus operators. The agreement includes subsidy paperwork, technical studies, permanent work tables and a plan to connect bus monitoring systems with the city security council.

Tranvía Cuenca says crews are evaluating and repairing damage at the Ordóñez Lasso tram stop after a trailer entered the exclusive tram platform and damaged part of the boarding area. The tram system is still operating normally, but riders are being asked to take precautions while maintenance work finishes.

Cuenca has opened CEIM La Floresta, a municipal early-childhood center that will serve 29 children and their families. The city says its municipal early education centers now benefit 538 children, with the network operating on a $2.6 million investment.

Girón begins its 202nd political emancipation anniversary agenda tonight with the queen election at Salón del Pueblo Jaime Vallejo Erráez at 19:00. The program continues June 21 with sports events and the Cholita Gironense election, then closes June 25 with a cultural parade and solemn session.

Marisol Penalosa has officially taken over as Cuenca's acting mayor after Cristian Zamora's political rights were suspended for six months. For residents, the practical question is continuity: city services, mobility decisions and pending municipal projects now move through a different mayor's office.

Cuenca's Fiesta de la Musica runs June 18 through 27, with concerts across cultural spaces, bars, restaurants, cafes and open-air venues. It starts with free film-music concerts by the University of Cuenca Symphony Orchestra at Teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz on June 18 and 19 at 19:00.

A Cuenca court has ordered the city's bus chamber not to suspend, paralyze, restrict or reduce urban bus frequencies at night. The order comes during the dispute over fares, diesel costs and a municipal subsidy, with users already feeling the pinch after evening reductions began earlier this month.