Graduates' career choice and employability

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

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.