At the end of this month – or at least by the middle of December – scores of young men and women will be completing their undergraduate studies at South Africa’s 26 public universities and at the few such institutions that are privately run. This will cap a three- to four-year slog characterised by attending countless lectures and tutorials and poring over voluminous tomes on many a night – all in the hope of attaining the proverbial better future.
But is a university degree still that door opener to employment that affords one a decent life? The evidence does seem to suggest that a degree, or other tertiary qualification, improves one’s chances of getting a job. This is borne out by the labour force surveys that Statistics South Africa publishes every three months. The latest, for the period from July to September, shows that those with an education level below matric bear the brunt of the unemployment burden – they comprise 56.1% of the jobless 6.2-million economically active South Africans recorded in the latest survey. Matric certificate holders account for 35.1%, those who studied at colleges 6.6% and university graduates 1.7%.
Granted, 1.7% is a very small percentage, but it equates to about 106 000 of the 6.2-million South Africans who were roaming the streets during the three months to the end of September. That’s way more than enough people to fill the 94 736-capacity FNB stadium, in Soweto.
A study focusing on graduate unemployment in the South African banking sector, conducted by academics from the University of Johannesburg and North-West University and published in 2015, found that most of those with banking-relevant university qualifications who were out of a job were recent graduates.
So, chances are that the youngsters who are putting in long hours to ensure they pass with flying colours will be joining the ranks of the unemployed the moment they leave the examination halls later this month or in early December.
As the authors of the 2015 study point out, obtaining initial work experience is a key objective of young graduates in the 20- to 24-year age group. Failure to do so, they warn, may lead to outcomes that may be irreversible in many cases. Citing previous studies, they aver that previous work experience is correlated with whether one has a job currently or not. Thus, finding a first job is fundamental for a person’s lifetime work trajectory.
The banking-sector study also found that, besides academic qualifications and specific skills, employers usually demand work experience – despite the fact that the industry does not contribute in any significant way towards the building of experience.
In addition to a lack of experience, graduate unemployment in South Africa is also attributable to graduates having chosen the wrong field of study, weaknesses in the South African education system and changes in the economy which may lower the demand for workers with certain skills.
The South African government is not oblivious to the challenge of graduate unemployment. It has introduced several initiatives in this regard, with the latest effort, launched in July, being a scheme whereby recent graduates will be provided with work and training opportunities in government departments.
Expounding on the new scheme, dubbed the Public Service Graduate Recruitment Scheme, Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said at the launch back in July: “It is a well-known fact that young people seeking to [have] a career in the public sector often find it difficult to identify a suitable point of entry . . . and it is also true that departments struggle to identify and develop young talent from the ranks of the youth and unemployed graduates across the country.
“This scheme will therefore provide a more coherent entry route for young public servants and will provide targeted training and help build the skills and professional ethos required for the sector.”
The new scheme will consolidate and complement existing initiatives to ensure that there is a broader platform for skills recruitment and retention in the public service.
One hopes that it becomes a resounding success – in that way, the number of unemployed graduates may be whittled down.