Graduates – educated but unemployed!

Dr Linda Meyer | MD | IIE Rosebank College | President | Rosebank International University College Ghana | mail me |

South Africa’s graduate unemployment rate has surged from 8.7% last year to 11.7% this year, which has prompted questions about the value of a university degree in a struggling economy. However, the question should not be about the value of further education, but rather the systemic – yet clearly identifiable and addressable – issues that continue to cause barriers to employment post-graduation.

The case for more education, not less, is settled on the numbers. For those with only a matric certificate, the unemployment rate hovers at 34.9%, and it climbs to 39% for those without. The graduate unemployment rate – while up from last year – is a fraction of that at 11.7%.

But it is true that despite the clear case for education – evidenced by consistently lower unemployment rates for degree-holders compared to those with less education – the growing disconnect between tertiary education and employability demands urgent attention.

There are 6 clear barriers to employment for graduates, which must be addressed through an urgent coming together between higher education institutions, government and industry.

Economic barriers

South Africa’s stagnant economic growth is the primary barrier to graduate employment.

The economy needs to grow at least 3% annually to…

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