Sustainable Development and Human Capital

The objective of this research was to analyze the challenges faced by SMEs in Hermosillo, Sonora, to develop sustainable human capital, with the intention of identifying areas for improvement and proposing strategic guidelines to strengthen their organizational sustainability. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design was used, applying a standardized questionnaire to a purposive sample of 108 SMEs, focusing on managers and human resources managers. The findings revealed weaknesses in human resources, ethics, inclusion and especially in leadership and sustainable organizational culture, with mostly negative or neutral responses. Although well-being and work climate were positively valued, this was not integrated into an overall strategy. It is concluded that it is necessary to strengthen training processes, ethical leadership and strategic sustainability actions, which would benefit the competitiveness and economic and social development of Hermosillo.