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AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY

Year 2016, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 67 - 83, 01.06.2016

Abstract

In South Africa unemployment remains one of the most persistent and contentious economic complexities. The situation is even more critical among young people, undermining both social security and the country’s long-term economic growth and development prospects. Although graduate unemployment specifically is not worrying, the fact is that many of South Africa’s graduates still struggle to get a job, even after graduation. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of graduates on factors influencing graduate unemployment. Using data collected from the alumni database of one of the universities in South Africa, the study made use of descriptive analysis and cross tabulations to explore the perceptions of the causes of graduate unemployment between employed and unemployed graduates. A chi-square test was used to further determine whether there are significant differences in the responses of employed and unemployed graduates. The need to understand what graduates perceive to be the reasons for graduate unemployment may clarify the exertion or absence thereof on their part in attempting to address their circumstance. The researcher does, however, consider the sample size as being insufficient to generalise the findings. Further research must aim to study a more representative sample

References

  • ACU (The Association of Commonwealth Universities) (2015), Higher
  • Education: What Role can the Commonwealth Play? Background Paper for the Discussion at the 19th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, 22-26 June 2015.
  • Acquah, Adjoa (2009), “Tertiary Graduates: Earnings and Employment Prospects in the South African labour market”, Southern African Review of Education, Vol. , No. 2, pp.27-44.
  • ADB (African Development Bank) (2012), Youth employment in Africa: a background paper for the 2012 African Economic Outlook, African Development Bank, Côte d'Ivoire.
  • AEO (African Economic Outlook) (2012), Promoting youth unemployment, http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/fileadmin/uploads/PAGES
  • %20Pocket%20Edition%20AEO2012-EN.pdf [Accessed13.12.2015]
  • Altbeker, Antony and Storme, Evelien (2013), Graduate Unemployment in South
  • Africa: A Much Exaggerated Problem, Cape Town: Centre for Development and Enterprise Insight. Archer, Elizabeth and Chetty, Yuraisha (2013), “Graduate Employability:
  • Conceptualisation and Findings from the University of South Africa”, Progressio, Vol. 35, No.1, pp.136-167. Baldry, Kim (2013), Graduate Unemployment in South Africa: Prevalence,
  • Characteristics and Perceived causes, Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand, (Dissertation-MA). Banerjee, Abhijit, Galianit, Sebastian, Levinsohn, Jim, Mclaren, Zoe and Woolard, Ingrid (2008), “Why has Unemployment Risen in the New South
  • Africa?”, Economics of Transition, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.715-740. CHEC (Cape Higher Education Consortium) (2013), Pathways From University to Work: A Graduate Destination Survey of the 2010 Cohort of Graduates From the Western Cape Universities, CHEC: South Africa, Cape Town.
  • Dai, Kosi, Tsadidey, Simon, Ashiagbor, Isaac and Baku, Millicent (2008),
  • Graduate Unemployment in Ghana: Possible Case of Poor Response of University Programs to the Demands of the Job Market, http://www.rocare.org/ grants/2008/Graduate%20Unemployment%20in%20Ghana.pdf 07.2016] Accessed
  • Essien, B.S. and Onukwubiri, U.D (2015), “Graduate Unemployment in Nigeria:
  • An Appraisal of the Causes and Socio-Behavioral Effects among Graduate in Abia State”, International Journal of Advance Research, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp.1-25. Farooq, Shujaat (2011), Mismatches Between Education and Occupation: A Caste
  • Study of Pakistani Graduates, http://www.pide.org.pk/psde/pdf/AGM27 /Shujaat%20Farooq.pdf [Accessed 15.02.2016]
  • Festus, Lyle, Kasongo, Atoko, Moses, Marianaand Yu, Derek (2015), “The South
  • African Labour Market 1995-2013”, Economic Research Southern Africa
  • Working Paper 493, Cape Town: ERSA. Giuliano, Paola and Tsibouris, George (2001), “Unemployment Characteristics and Persistence in South Africa”, IMF, Washington. (Unpublished).
  • Griesel, Hanlie and Parker, Ben (2009), Graduate Attributes: A Baseline Study on
  • South African Graduates from the Perspective of Employers. http://www.saqa. org.za/docs/genpubs/2009/graduate_attributes.pdf [Accessed15.03.2016]
  • ILO (International Labour Organisation) (2015), “Global Employment Trends for Youth”, Geneva: ILO.
  • Jun, Kong and Fan, Jun (2011), “Factors Affecting Job Opportunities for
  • University Graduates in China: Evidence from University Graduates in Beijing”, Research in World Economy, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp.24-37. Kingdon, Geeta and Knight, John (2007), “Unemployment in South Africa, 1995- : Causes, Problems and Policies”, Journal of African Economies, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.813-848.
  • MacGregor, Karen (2007), “South Africa: joblessness amid skills shortage”,
  • University World News, 4 November. http://www.universityworldnews. com/article.php?story=20071101145653965 [Accessed 2.01.2016]
  • Manpower Group (2015), South Africa’s Annual Talent Shortage Survey, f-9bf6-f5f38a43c76a/2015_Talent_Shortage_Survey_US- lo_res.pdf?MOD=AJPERES [Accessed 27.10.2016]
  • Matsilele, Trust (2015), “South Africa is a Bomb Waiting to Explode”, CNBC
  • Africa, 24 Apr. http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/southern-africa/2015/04/24/ moeletsi-mbeki-south-africa-unemployment/ [Accessed 4.05.2016]
  • Mlatsheni, Cecil (2014), “Youth Unemployment and the Transition from School to
  • Work in Cape Town”, Cape Town: University of Cape Town, (Thesis-PhD). Moleke, Percy (2006), “Finding Work: Employment Experiences of South
  • African Graduates”, Cape Town: HSRC Press. Moleke, Percy (2010), “The Graduate Labour Market”, (in: Letseka et al.-Ed., Student Retention and Graduate Destination: Higher Education and Labour Market Access and Success), Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp.1-20.
  • Munnell, Alicia, Haverstick, Kelly and Sanzenbacher, Geoffrey (2006), “Job
  • Tenure and Pension Coverage”, Center for Retirement Research Working Paper Chestnut Hill: Center for Retirement Research. Nel, Heather and Neale-Shutte, Marian (2013), “Examining the Evidence:
  • Graduate Employability at NMMU, South African Journal of Higher Education, Vol.27, No.2, pp437–453. Nguyen, Anh and Bradley, Steve (2004), “The School-To-Work Transition”,
  • (in:. Edward Elgar-Ed., International Handbook on the Economics of Education), Cheltenham, pp. 484-521. OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) (2008),
  • Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators, Paris: OECD. Oluwajodu, Faith, Blaauw, Derick, Greyling, Lorraine and Kleynhans, Ewert (2015), “Graduate Unemployment in South Africa: Perspectives from the Banking
  • Sector”, SA Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol.13, No.1, pp.9. Pauw, Kalie, Oosthuizen, Morne and Van Der Westhuizen, Carlene (2008),
  • “Graduate Unemployment in the Face of Skills Shortage: A Labour Market Paradox”, South African Journal of Economics, Vol.6, No.1. Pham, Hiep (2013), “Graduate Unemployment and Over Education Rising”,
  • University World News, issue no 280, July, 13, http://www.universityworldnews. com/article.php?story=20130711163808113 [Accessed 1.03.2016]
  • Posel, Dorrit, Casale, Daniela and Vermaak, Claire (2014), “Job Search and the Measurement of Unemployment in South Africa”, South African Journal of Economics, Vol.82, No.1, pp. 66–80.
  • Sirat, Morshidi, Heng, Chan and Shuib,Munir et al. (2012), “Employability of
  • Graduates in Malaysia”, Bangkok, Thailand: Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, UNESCO. Spaull, Nicholas (2013), “South Africa’s Education Crisis: The Quality of
  • Education in South Africa 1994-2011”, Johannesburg: Centre for Development & Enterprise.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2014), Employment, Unemployment, Skills and Economic Growth: An Exploration of Household Survey Evidence on Skills
  • Development and Unemployment between 1994 and 2014, Pretoria: Government Printer.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2015), Quarterly Labour Force Survey –
  • Quarter 2: 2015, Pretoria: Government Printer.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2015a), South Africa Labour Market: Youth Q1
  • – Q1 2015, Pretoria: Government Printer.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2016), Quarterly Labour Force Survey
  • Unemployment Decreases in the Fourth Quarter of 2015, http://www.statssa. gov.za/publications/P0211/Press_statement_QLFS_Q4_2015.pdf [Accessed 03.2016]
  • Swanepoel, J.W.H., Swanepoel, C.J., Van Graan, F.C., Allison, J.S. and Santana, L. (2010), Elementary Statistical Methods, 3 ed, Potchefstroom: AndCork. rd
  • Van Broekhuizen, H (2016), “Graduate Unemployment and Higher Education
  • Institutions in South Africa”, Bureau for Economic Research and Stellenbosch Economic Working Paper 08/16. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University. Walker, Melanie (2015), Student Perceptions of Employability and Inclusive
  • Development: South Africa, International Higher Education: The British Council Weligamage, Susima and Siengthai, Sununta (2003), “Employer Needs and Graduate Skills: The Gap Between Employer Expectations and Job Expectations of Sri Lankan University Graduates”, 9TH International Conference on Sri Lanka
  • Studies, Matara, Sri Lanka, 28-30 November 2003.
Year 2016, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 67 - 83, 01.06.2016

Abstract

References

  • ACU (The Association of Commonwealth Universities) (2015), Higher
  • Education: What Role can the Commonwealth Play? Background Paper for the Discussion at the 19th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, 22-26 June 2015.
  • Acquah, Adjoa (2009), “Tertiary Graduates: Earnings and Employment Prospects in the South African labour market”, Southern African Review of Education, Vol. , No. 2, pp.27-44.
  • ADB (African Development Bank) (2012), Youth employment in Africa: a background paper for the 2012 African Economic Outlook, African Development Bank, Côte d'Ivoire.
  • AEO (African Economic Outlook) (2012), Promoting youth unemployment, http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/fileadmin/uploads/PAGES
  • %20Pocket%20Edition%20AEO2012-EN.pdf [Accessed13.12.2015]
  • Altbeker, Antony and Storme, Evelien (2013), Graduate Unemployment in South
  • Africa: A Much Exaggerated Problem, Cape Town: Centre for Development and Enterprise Insight. Archer, Elizabeth and Chetty, Yuraisha (2013), “Graduate Employability:
  • Conceptualisation and Findings from the University of South Africa”, Progressio, Vol. 35, No.1, pp.136-167. Baldry, Kim (2013), Graduate Unemployment in South Africa: Prevalence,
  • Characteristics and Perceived causes, Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand, (Dissertation-MA). Banerjee, Abhijit, Galianit, Sebastian, Levinsohn, Jim, Mclaren, Zoe and Woolard, Ingrid (2008), “Why has Unemployment Risen in the New South
  • Africa?”, Economics of Transition, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.715-740. CHEC (Cape Higher Education Consortium) (2013), Pathways From University to Work: A Graduate Destination Survey of the 2010 Cohort of Graduates From the Western Cape Universities, CHEC: South Africa, Cape Town.
  • Dai, Kosi, Tsadidey, Simon, Ashiagbor, Isaac and Baku, Millicent (2008),
  • Graduate Unemployment in Ghana: Possible Case of Poor Response of University Programs to the Demands of the Job Market, http://www.rocare.org/ grants/2008/Graduate%20Unemployment%20in%20Ghana.pdf 07.2016] Accessed
  • Essien, B.S. and Onukwubiri, U.D (2015), “Graduate Unemployment in Nigeria:
  • An Appraisal of the Causes and Socio-Behavioral Effects among Graduate in Abia State”, International Journal of Advance Research, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp.1-25. Farooq, Shujaat (2011), Mismatches Between Education and Occupation: A Caste
  • Study of Pakistani Graduates, http://www.pide.org.pk/psde/pdf/AGM27 /Shujaat%20Farooq.pdf [Accessed 15.02.2016]
  • Festus, Lyle, Kasongo, Atoko, Moses, Marianaand Yu, Derek (2015), “The South
  • African Labour Market 1995-2013”, Economic Research Southern Africa
  • Working Paper 493, Cape Town: ERSA. Giuliano, Paola and Tsibouris, George (2001), “Unemployment Characteristics and Persistence in South Africa”, IMF, Washington. (Unpublished).
  • Griesel, Hanlie and Parker, Ben (2009), Graduate Attributes: A Baseline Study on
  • South African Graduates from the Perspective of Employers. http://www.saqa. org.za/docs/genpubs/2009/graduate_attributes.pdf [Accessed15.03.2016]
  • ILO (International Labour Organisation) (2015), “Global Employment Trends for Youth”, Geneva: ILO.
  • Jun, Kong and Fan, Jun (2011), “Factors Affecting Job Opportunities for
  • University Graduates in China: Evidence from University Graduates in Beijing”, Research in World Economy, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp.24-37. Kingdon, Geeta and Knight, John (2007), “Unemployment in South Africa, 1995- : Causes, Problems and Policies”, Journal of African Economies, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.813-848.
  • MacGregor, Karen (2007), “South Africa: joblessness amid skills shortage”,
  • University World News, 4 November. http://www.universityworldnews. com/article.php?story=20071101145653965 [Accessed 2.01.2016]
  • Manpower Group (2015), South Africa’s Annual Talent Shortage Survey, f-9bf6-f5f38a43c76a/2015_Talent_Shortage_Survey_US- lo_res.pdf?MOD=AJPERES [Accessed 27.10.2016]
  • Matsilele, Trust (2015), “South Africa is a Bomb Waiting to Explode”, CNBC
  • Africa, 24 Apr. http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/southern-africa/2015/04/24/ moeletsi-mbeki-south-africa-unemployment/ [Accessed 4.05.2016]
  • Mlatsheni, Cecil (2014), “Youth Unemployment and the Transition from School to
  • Work in Cape Town”, Cape Town: University of Cape Town, (Thesis-PhD). Moleke, Percy (2006), “Finding Work: Employment Experiences of South
  • African Graduates”, Cape Town: HSRC Press. Moleke, Percy (2010), “The Graduate Labour Market”, (in: Letseka et al.-Ed., Student Retention and Graduate Destination: Higher Education and Labour Market Access and Success), Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp.1-20.
  • Munnell, Alicia, Haverstick, Kelly and Sanzenbacher, Geoffrey (2006), “Job
  • Tenure and Pension Coverage”, Center for Retirement Research Working Paper Chestnut Hill: Center for Retirement Research. Nel, Heather and Neale-Shutte, Marian (2013), “Examining the Evidence:
  • Graduate Employability at NMMU, South African Journal of Higher Education, Vol.27, No.2, pp437–453. Nguyen, Anh and Bradley, Steve (2004), “The School-To-Work Transition”,
  • (in:. Edward Elgar-Ed., International Handbook on the Economics of Education), Cheltenham, pp. 484-521. OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) (2008),
  • Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators, Paris: OECD. Oluwajodu, Faith, Blaauw, Derick, Greyling, Lorraine and Kleynhans, Ewert (2015), “Graduate Unemployment in South Africa: Perspectives from the Banking
  • Sector”, SA Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol.13, No.1, pp.9. Pauw, Kalie, Oosthuizen, Morne and Van Der Westhuizen, Carlene (2008),
  • “Graduate Unemployment in the Face of Skills Shortage: A Labour Market Paradox”, South African Journal of Economics, Vol.6, No.1. Pham, Hiep (2013), “Graduate Unemployment and Over Education Rising”,
  • University World News, issue no 280, July, 13, http://www.universityworldnews. com/article.php?story=20130711163808113 [Accessed 1.03.2016]
  • Posel, Dorrit, Casale, Daniela and Vermaak, Claire (2014), “Job Search and the Measurement of Unemployment in South Africa”, South African Journal of Economics, Vol.82, No.1, pp. 66–80.
  • Sirat, Morshidi, Heng, Chan and Shuib,Munir et al. (2012), “Employability of
  • Graduates in Malaysia”, Bangkok, Thailand: Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, UNESCO. Spaull, Nicholas (2013), “South Africa’s Education Crisis: The Quality of
  • Education in South Africa 1994-2011”, Johannesburg: Centre for Development & Enterprise.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2014), Employment, Unemployment, Skills and Economic Growth: An Exploration of Household Survey Evidence on Skills
  • Development and Unemployment between 1994 and 2014, Pretoria: Government Printer.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2015), Quarterly Labour Force Survey –
  • Quarter 2: 2015, Pretoria: Government Printer.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2015a), South Africa Labour Market: Youth Q1
  • – Q1 2015, Pretoria: Government Printer.
  • Stats SA (Statistics South Africa) (2016), Quarterly Labour Force Survey
  • Unemployment Decreases in the Fourth Quarter of 2015, http://www.statssa. gov.za/publications/P0211/Press_statement_QLFS_Q4_2015.pdf [Accessed 03.2016]
  • Swanepoel, J.W.H., Swanepoel, C.J., Van Graan, F.C., Allison, J.S. and Santana, L. (2010), Elementary Statistical Methods, 3 ed, Potchefstroom: AndCork. rd
  • Van Broekhuizen, H (2016), “Graduate Unemployment and Higher Education
  • Institutions in South Africa”, Bureau for Economic Research and Stellenbosch Economic Working Paper 08/16. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University. Walker, Melanie (2015), Student Perceptions of Employability and Inclusive
  • Development: South Africa, International Higher Education: The British Council Weligamage, Susima and Siengthai, Sununta (2003), “Employer Needs and Graduate Skills: The Gap Between Employer Expectations and Job Expectations of Sri Lankan University Graduates”, 9TH International Conference on Sri Lanka
  • Studies, Matara, Sri Lanka, 28-30 November 2003.
There are 57 citations in total.

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Journal Section Articles
Authors

P. Mncayi This is me

Publication Date June 1, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2016 Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Mncayi, P. (2016). AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies, 8(1), 67-83.
AMA Mncayi P. AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. IJ-SSHS. June 2016;8(1):67-83.
Chicago Mncayi, P. “AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY”. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies 8, no. 1 (June 2016): 67-83.
EndNote Mncayi P (June 1, 2016) AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies 8 1 67–83.
IEEE P. Mncayi, “AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY”, IJ-SSHS, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 67–83, 2016.
ISNAD Mncayi, P. “AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY”. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies 8/1 (June 2016), 67-83.
JAMA Mncayi P. AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. IJ-SSHS. 2016;8:67–83.
MLA Mncayi, P. “AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY”. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies, vol. 8, no. 1, 2016, pp. 67-83.
Vancouver Mncayi P. AN ANALYSIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY. IJ-SSHS. 2016;8(1):67-83.